Haiti keep pace with Curaçao in good start to WCQ

MIAMI (CMC):

HAITI JOINED Jamaica in winning both games of the second round of Concacaf World Cup qualification over the weekend.

Haiti and Jamaica were keeping pace with three Central American sides, while El Salvador had their first victory.

While Jamaica were keeping pace with Guatemala in Group E after their 3-2 win over Dominica at Windsor Park put them on six points, albeit with a weeker goal difference, Haiti were doing the same in Group C at Wildey Turf where they were 3-1 winners over Barbados.

Curaçao lead the group and are also on six points.

The Haitians led 2-0 at half-time after Louicius Deedson struck from close range in the 12th minute and Markhus Lacroix hit a left-footed strike towards the top netting.

Niall Reid-Stephen shortened the deficit in the 73rd minute with his second goal of the qualifiers, but Bryan Labissiere restored the advantage when he finished off a counterattacking move in the 84th minute.

Over at the National Sports Centre in Bermuda, six different players scored, as Group A leaders Honduras pounded the hosts 6-1 in the most lopsided result of match-day four.

The match looked to be a genuine contest when United States-based midfielder Zeiko Lewis scored from the penalty spot in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage to equalise for the Bermudans.

Kevin Arriaga had earlier given the Hondurans the lead after 15 minutes with a strike near the penalty spot.

However, Honduras imposed their will in the second half, with David Ruiz restoring their lead in the 49th minute with a strike in front of goal, connecting on a cross from Luis Palma.

Edwin Rodriguez secured his second goal of the campaign in the 53rd minute to extend the lead, while Luis Vega opened his tally in the 56th, capitalising off a rebound.

Andy Najar added his name to the scoresheet in the 62nd minute when he placed the ball just inside the right post, Bryan Rochez completed the rout in the first minute of second half stoppage time with a left-footed strike from inside the penalty arc.

Luis Palma ended the night with three assists, all of which came in the first three goals from the visitors.

Costa Rica crush Grenada

Over at the Kirani James Stadium, Group B leaders Costa Rica kept their foot on the pedal after taking a two-goal lead at half-time and brushed aside Grenada 3-0 in St George’s.

Manfred Ugalde latched onto a through ball from Brandon Aguilera to give the Ticos the lead after nine minutes, and a left-footed finish from Alvaro Zamora pushed them further ahead after 34 minutes.

Gerald Taylor put the finishing touch on a short pass from Ugalde in the 70th to complete the rout.

Over at The Frank Issed Stadium, second-half strikes from Rafael Tejada and Nelson Bonilla powered El Salvador to a 3-1 win against St Vincent and the Grenadines in Group F in the Suriname capital of Paramaribo.

The match was level at 1-1 at half-time after Jairo Henriquez put the Salvadorans ahead with a rocket from outside the box in the 10th minute, and United States-based forward Oalex Anderson headed in from a corner kick in the 43rd minute to bring SVG level.

Tejada regained the lead for El Salvador on the hour after a build-up from Jairo Henriquez and Francis Castillo, and Bonilla connected on a long cross from Nelson Blanco in the 83rd to seal the deal for the Central American side.

At the National Football Stadium in the Nicaragua capital of Managua, José Fajardo and José Rodrí­guez propelled Panama to a 3-1 win against Montserrat in their Group D match.

The match was also level 1-1 after Jovani Welch struck from long distance in the 40th to give the Panamanians the lead, but Kaleem Strawbrige-Simon equalised in the 48th with his attempt from outside the box.

But Fajardo put Panama in the lead again in the 61st minute when he connected with a header from a service from Rodriguez, who added his name to the scoresheet in the 70th with a header at the left post.

Panama improved to six points from two matches and keep pace with leaders Nicaragua.