Jordan 0 - Uruguay 0

Photo by Daniel Caselli

The final qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup took place before a very confident, joyous, and relaxed crowd in Montevideo.  Such a crowd atmosphere is not typical for the second leg of an intercontinental playoff series, but hosts Uruguay were ahead 5-0 on aggregate against visiting Jordan.  Fans of La Celeste were expecting tonight to be nothing more than a glorious victory lap for their side.  As expected, the match got off to an extremely slow start with the outcome of the series all but decided before kickoff.  At the end of the half, Uruguay really should have grabbed the lead on a corner kick play.  Edinson Cavani headed from fifteen yards out toward goal.  Diego Lugano (pictured, blue #2) flicked on to the goal line, from where his fellow centerback Diego Godin somehow managed to head the ball off the crossbar rather than into the Jordanian goal.  The half ended as it began, 0-0.

A fast exchange required a kick save from Jordan goalkeeper Mohamad Shatnawi (pictured, black).  On the hour mark, Uruguay really should have nudged ahead, but Lugano missed a free header from six yards out on a corner kick.  Jordan actually had a chance to get ahead, but Lugano blocked a shot from the penalty spot by Ahmad Ibrahim.  Cavani had a chance with his last kick of the ball before being substituted off, but Shatnawi made a safe grab.  Uruguay really only looked threatening on corner kicks on this rather relaxed night.  Jordan hang on for a credible 0-0 draw on the road against a South American power.  Jordan are nevertheless the final team to be eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup, falling by a 5-0 aggregate scoreline.  For the second straight tournament, Uruguay are the last of the thirty-two teams to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals.

Match Reports:
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/20/uruguay-vs-jordan-2014-fifa-world-cup-playoff-qualified/
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/uruguay-0-0-jordan-world-cup-qualifier-second-leg-match-report-goalless-draw-centenario-112013
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2227242/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_1
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2510938/Uruguay-0-Jordan-0-agg-5-0--Luis-Suarez-books-World-Cup-ticket-South-Americans-progress.html

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZayay7ROBw

Mexico 4 - New Zealand 2

Photo by Hannah Johnston

Mexico made the long trek southwest to Wellington for the second leg of their intercontinental playoff series.  New Zealand were hoping the home field advantage would allowed them to overcome a 5-1 deficit.  Mexico midfielder Carlos Peña had other plans.  He fired a warning shot from distance early that forced New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss into a tough save.  Then, Peña opened up the Kiwi defense with a pass up the middle to a streaking Oribe Peralta.  Peralta beat Tommy Smith to the spot and then chipped over an oncoming Moss for a 1-0 lead.  Peña slotted yet another through ball through the defense, but Raul Jimenez took a weak shot, allowing Moss to make the save behind his momentum.  Jeremy Brockie (pictured, white #16) had a chance to equalize, but Mexico goalkeeper Moises Muñoz angled him wide and then blocked his shot.  Peña again provided the impetus for a Mexican goal.  Peña pushed a through ball behind three New Zealand defenders. Miguel Layun (pictured, green #7) received the ball wide left and then rolled a fast pass across the box to Peralta for a tap-in goal and a 2-0 lead.  Soon thereafter, Peña got the assist himself after receiving a through ball from Jimenez.  Peña passed across the box to Peralta for another tap-in finish to complete a hat trick.  Peña, again, sliced a pass through the Kiwi defense.  On a one-two-one, Jimenez passed to Peña, who then backheeled a through ball to Jimenez.  Jimenez beat Moss but his chip at goal was saved off the line by Smith.  Soon thereafter, a through ball from Marco Rojas (pictured, white, left) had Brockie in on goal, but he was dripped by Muñoz in the box.  Muñoz made up for the foul by stuffing Brockie on the resulting penalty kick.  Mexico took their 3-0 lead into the break.

Peralta could have shot at an open net when Moss came out of the box to attempt a slide tackle, but Peralta took too long to shoot and Andrew Durante blocked his shot.  Mexico were rather subdued during the second half, and New Zealand began to gain periods of possession.  Kiwi appeals for a handball were turned away, but they did draw a second penalty of the match with ten minutes to go.  This time, they converted, and they pulled within two goals.  Nexico by this time had already gone asleep.  A run from Kosta Barbarouses put Mexico under pressure in their own box.  Brockie saved the ball off the end line to pass to Barbarouses.  Barbarouses first-timed a cross that was played across the momentum of Muñoz by Rory Fallon for the hosts' second goal of the match.  Just as New Zealand were feeling confident of tying the match, Mexico scored a fourth.  Peña provided the finishing touch as a slow roller through the New Zealand box somehow avoided many sets of legs.  Mexico win the match 4-2 and the aggregate series 9-3 in order to qualify for Brasil 2014.  New Zealand are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
 
Goals
Mexico
Oribe Peralta 14, 29, 33
Carlos Peña 86

New Zealand
Chris James 80 PK
Rory Fallon 82

Match Reports:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/new-zealand-2-mexico-4-match-report-first-half-hattrick-from-oribe-peralta-takes-mexico-through-to-world-cup-2014-8951150.html
http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2014/news/article/2013/11/20/new-zealand-2-mexico-4-world-cup-qualifying-match-recap
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/long-road-mexico-qualifies-for-6th-straight-world-cup-with-4-2-win-at-new-zealand/2013/11/20/451adbbe-51fc-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2226820/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQBswQeZxt8

Mexico 5 - New Zealand 1

Photo by Alfredo Estrella

Mexico were hoping to right their foundering campaign at home in Mexico City.  New Zealand were in town for the first leg of their intercontinental playoff series.  Mexico called up a squad completely comprised of locally-based players with a heavy reliance on Club America players.  Club America share the Estadio Azteca with the national side.  Mexico came close to breaking through the five-man backline on the quarter hour mark, but Oribe Peralta could not head Miguel Layun's cross on target.  Soon thereafter, another Layun cross led to a dangerous series of headers in the box that ended with New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss punching a header from Raul Jimenez off the line.  A long-distance knuckle ball from Mexico centerback Francisco Rodriguez nearly caught Moss unaware, but Moss was able to punch the ball off the crossbar and out for a corner kick.  On a long through ball, Jimenez was in on goal, but after angling his run, he could only manage to blast a shot into the arms and chest of Moss.  Mexico were dominant with over three-fourths of the possession.  A misplay from Moss led to the opening goal for Mexico.  Moss was too quick to come off his line even though his teammate Andrew Durante had the header clearance covered.  Moss crashed through the back of Durante, and the resulting weak header was pushed into the vacant goal by Paul Aguilar.  An audacious Jimenez airborne backheel flick forced a diving save out of Moss.  Off the resulting corner, Carlos Peña was completely unmarked in the box, so he headed down into the ground, and Jimenez was able to win the header inside the six-yard box to score the second goal for the hosts.

The lone striker for the Kiwis Chris Wood came close to hitting the top corner shortly after coming out of the locker room.  However, Mexico were the side to score early in the second period.  A long ball wide from Rafa Marquez landed at Layun's feet.  Layun rolled a ball into the box behind Ivan Vicelich to a wide open Oribe Peralta for the tap-in goal.  A medium-range free kick taken by Marquez was heading in at the far post before Moss made a diving save out for another Mexican corner.  With ten minutes left in regular time, Layun clinched his man-of-the-match award.  Again, a long ball across the field from Marquez landed at Layun's feet.  Layun crossed into the box perfectly to set up Peralta for a snap header goal.  This was a second assist from Layun's weaker left foot.  A corner kick led to another header opportunity that was buried by captain Marquez as the home side again destroyed the zonal marking system of the Kiwis.  Within one minute, New Zealand found a goal.  Rory Fallon won a contested header in the Mexican box and the second ball fell to Chris James, who hit a volley in off the post that just barely trickled over the line.  Moss had to make yet another long-distance save as Jimenez burned Vicelich off the dribble and decided to have a go.  Mexico win 5-1 and will be facing a very short-handed New Zealand side away in one week's time.  Perhaps New Zealand will be able to correct their poor marking on set pieces during the week off.

New Zealand lose their starting forward Wood, winger Leo Bertos, and centerback Ivan Vicelich for the second leg due to yellow card accumulation throughout qualifying. 

Goals
Mexico
Paul Aguilar 32
Raul Jimenez 40
Oribe Peralta 48, 80
Rafael Marquez 84

New Zealand
Chris James 85

Match Reports:
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1615578/mexico-blisters-new-zealand-5-1-wcup-playoff?cc=5901
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/11/13/5101184/mexico-vs-new-zealand-2014-world-cup-qualifying-playoffs-final-score-report

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN9hfuaRUgs

Uruguay 5 - Jordan 0

Photo by Jack Guez

Uruguay made the long trek across the globe to get to Amman in time to face their hosts Jordan in the first leg of their intercontinental playoff series.  The match started off slowly as the two sides were feeling each other out having never faced each other previously.  At the quarter hour mark, Oday Al-Saify created a chance when his cross floated right at the near post, forcing a diving save across his momentum by Uruguay goalkeeper Martin Silva.  It would be Uruguay who would score first, however.  A Cristian Stuani cross to Edinson Cavani at the back post led to a header that was saved by Jordan goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Shatnawi.  No Jordan defenders crashed on the follow up rebound, so Maxi Pereira was free to clean up the rebound and score the opener.  Egidio Arevalo Rios was the player of the half for the visitors as he cut out so many Jordan attacks from his position in the midfield.  Nicolas Lodeiro played a through ball to Stuani that just defied a sliding block attempt fromr Al-Saify.  Once the ball got through, Stuani popped it into the next to double the lead.  Uruguay would be pleased to be ahead 2-0 at the halftime whistle.

For the first half of the second period, Jordan were the completely dominant team.  A cross in from Adnan Adous beat the two defenders around Ahmad Hayel, but Hayel somehow pushed wide with the goal at his mercy.  After the Hayel miss, Jordan just could not seem to complete the final probing passes necessary to break down the Uruguayan defense.  One can only imagine how things would have turned out differently for Jordan had they made it 2-1.  Cavani ran all the way to the endline and dragged Al-Shatnawi out of position.  Cavani then cut a pass back upfield, and Lodeiro chipped into the vacant net for 3-0.  Substitute Alvaro Pereira hit a long, floating ball over the Jordanian defense, which had overplayed to its right flank in response to his run.  Cristian Rodriguez was open on the other side, and had time to trap with his chest before blasting a ball into the bottom corner for Uruguay's fourth goal.  A Thaer Bawab ball into Hayel was cut out at the last moment by a Diego Lugano slide, preserving the shutout with five minutes to go.  In the penultimate minute of regulation, a late chance for Diego Forlan was parried out for a corner kick by Al-Shatnawi.  In stoppage time, a high-boot challenge from Adous led to a free kick chance from nineteen yards away.  Cavani hit an amazing curling free kick that went from outside the far post back on frame into the upper ninety.  Uruguay record a massive 5-0 victory and will come home next week to face Jordan in what will amount to a party to celebrate their qualification for Brasil 2014.

Goals
Uruguay
Maxi Pereira 22
Cristian Stuani 42
Nicolas Lodeiro 69
Cristian Rodriguez 78
Edinson Cavani 90+2

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2223500/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_caption
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/jordans-world-cup-dream-in-tatters-after-uruguay-thrashing
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/13/uruguay-jordan-world-cup-playoff

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW2LmhI7ln4

Preview: Intercontinental Playoffs

The intercontinental playoffs are a rare treat in the world of international football.  These two series are the only four matches in a four-year period that feature competitive matches between teams from different confederations that do not take place in a neutral host country.  The FIFA Confederations Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and even the Olympics all take place at neutral sites.  Qualifying matches for continental finals and for the FIFA World Cup take place before partisan crowds, but they feature matches among teams from the same confederation.  Only the intercontinental playoffs provide fans the chance to show partisan support for their home teams as they take on unfamiliar foes from other regions of the world.

Due to the long distances between Amman and Montevideo, and Mexico City and Wellington, these series take place over an eight-day period rather than the more typical five-day period offered by the international matchday windows.  This is to compensate for long travel times and to allow for better acclimatization as the teams explore different parts of the Earth.

Mexico are the negative surprise package of the bunch.  Few would have predicted that the team seeded first in North America at the start of the tournament would finish as low as fourth position.  Even more surprising was the fact the Mexico were a mere three minutes from being eliminated in fifth position before the United States of America turned around their final qualifier against Panama in the final moments to deny Panama a berth in these intercontinental playoffs.  Mexico have just switched to their fourth different coach since September.  In fact, no foreign-based players have been called up by the new coach due to the lack of good performances in qualifying produced by the European-based stars of El Tri.  Even the formerly mystical home field advantage of the Estadio Azteca has been shredded by a run of only one victory from five home qualifiers in 2013.  However, the all-local side did defeat Finland in a recent friendly.  They also are somewhat familiar with New Zealand, having played and won two friendlies against the Kiwis in the past four years.  The big question for Mexico is whether their inexperienced midfield can hold up over the two legs of this tie.  Only one midfielder on the roster has even ten caps.

New Zealand are the obvious participant in this round as few expected any other Oceania side to truly push New Zealand for superiority in qualifying.  Now, after eight months without playing a competitive match since finishing the Oceania campaign in March, the Kiwis finally get to face the pressure of a match that counts.  In 2009, New Zealand were able to hold Bahrain away before securing a classic 1-0 victory at home in the Westpac Stadium.  Unfortunately, New Zealand are missing stalwart captain and fullback Winston Reid due to injury, so they will have to make up for his absence.  With only six matches played this year, are the players familiar enough with each other to overcome Mexico?  New Zealand did defeat Saudi Arabia away two months ago.  With a roster full of A-League players along with England-based Tommy Smith and Chris Wood, the Kiwis will be looking to stay solid defensively on the road in the first leg.

Jordan are the positive surprise package of the bunch.  Few would have predicted that the team seeded thirteenth in Asia at the start of the tournament would finish in fifth position.  It was even a bit of a surprise to some that Jordan made it into the final ten given that they were in an AFC Third Round group with China and Iraq with only two tickets available to the final round.  Jordan have navigated through eighteen fixtures so far, including a pair of home-and-away aggregate-goals series such as the one they now face against Uruguay.  Jordan have won penalty shootouts in each of the past two FIFA World Cups, defeating Kyrgyzstan in 2007 and Uzbekistan in 2013 to qualify for these intercontinental playoffs.  No expectations will be weighing upon the Jordanians as they take on 2011 Copa America champions Uruguay.  Nearly the entire roster plays its club football in either Jordan or Kuwait.  Jordan have been impressive in two recent friendlies in the Middle East, defeating both the 2012 and 2013 African Cup of Nations champions by a score of 1-0.  Zambia and Nigeria may not quite match up to the standards of Uruguay, but Jordan are in good form at the moment.  They are unbeaten in their past ten matches, and have a record of ten wins and three draws at home in 2013.

Uruguay are the perennial qualifying underachievers of South America, but at least they are consistent in their bid to finish fifth place every cycle.  Two of Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Chile manage to finish ahead of Uruguay alongside Argentina and Brasil, yet Uruguay always manage to stay ahead of the other two in order to claim fifth position.  This time around with Brazil not taking part in qualifying, Uruguay managed only to surpass Paraguay, but that was enough.  La Celeste have a ridiculously long history with the intercontinental playoffs.  In 2001, Uruguay defeated Australia.  In 2005, Australia beat Uruguay in a penalty shootout.  In 2009, Uruguay defeated Costa Rica despite not winning their home leg at the Estadio Centenario.  Jordan appear to be the weakest of the four opponents Uruguay will have faced, but nothing should be taken for granted.  La Celeste's run to the semifinals of this year's FIFA Confederations Cup has really reinvigorated the national team.  Still, for a team that since June has defeated France, Venezuela, Nigeria, Japan, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina, underestimation of their opponents Jordan is the likeliest source of trouble.  Starting goalkeeper Fernando Muslera is out for this series.

Going by the ELO ratings, #24 Mexico are favorites to knock off #56 New Zealand for spot number thirty-one at Brasil 2014 while #7 Uruguay are huge favorites to knock off #59 Jordan and claim spot number thirty-two at Brasil 2014.  I expect those rankings to hold true.

Mexico will win their first leg at home by multiple goals.  Even if New Zealand manage to win at home, they will not win on aggregate.  Uruguay are simply too strong right now and will win both legs in order to claim not only the final berth at Brasil 2014 but also a place among the eight seeded teams.

Match Previews:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2222779/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_1
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2222441/index.html

Match Schedule: November 2013

November 2013 marks the end of the long journey that is FIFA World Cup qualifying for Brasil 2014.  The cycle began in Trinidad and Tobago back on 15 June 2011 and will end on 20 November 2013 in Uruguay.  This month, the remaining twenty-two teams across all six confederations will be whittled down to the final eleven qualifiers with the other eleven sides suffering elimination at the final hurdle.  Four qualifications and four eliminations will come out of the playoffs in Europe.  Five qualifications and five eliminations will come out of the second legs of the final round in Africa.  The final two qualifications and two eliminations will take place on the final day of qualifying in the two intercontinental playoff series.  The seventeen matches this month will see the field of thirty-two nations finally reveal itself in its entirety ahead of the final draw in December.

All times are given in Central Time (GMT-6).

13 November 2013
Uruguay at Jordan 9:00 Amman
New Zealand at Mexico 14:30 Mexico City

15 November 2013
Croatia at Iceland 13:00 Reykjavik
France at Ukraine 13:45 Kiev
Romania at Greece 13:45 Piraeus
Sweden at Portugal 13:45 Lisbon

16 November 2013
Ethiopia at Nigeria 9:00 Calabar
Cote d'Ivoire at Senegal 12:00 Casablanca, Morocco

17 November 2013
Tunisia at Cameroon 8:30 Yaoundé

19 November 2013
Ghana at Egypt 10:00 Cairo
Burkina Faso at Algeria 12:15 Blida
Greece at Romania 13:00 Bucharest
Ukraine at France 13:00 Saint-Denis
Iceland at Croatia 13:15 Zagreb
Portugal at Sweden 13:45 Solna

20 November 2013
Mexico at New Zealand 00:00 Wellington
Jordan at Uruguay 17:00 Montevideo

Intercontinental Playoffs Draw

This will be the first of several posts regarding the outcome of the preliminary draw. The posts will be done in the same order as the preliminary draw itself, with the intercontinental playoffs being first, followed by Africa, Asia, CONCACAF, Oceania, and Europe.

The fourth-place finisher from CONCACAF, the fifth-place finisher from CONMEBOL, the fifth-place finisher from the AFC, and the winner of the OFC will advance to these intercontinental playoffs. Per the results of the draw, the matchups are as follows.

AFC 5th place versus CONMEBOL 5th place

CONCACAF 4th place versus OFC 1st place

These matchups are expected to take place in November 2013. They will both be home-and-away aggregate-goals series. The winners will be the 31st and 32nd teams to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brasil.