2014 Qualifying Hexagonal Begins

Discussion in 'Other Sports' started by FWHORN, Feb 6, 2013.

  1. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    USA drops a 2-1 decision to Honduras today to start their qualifying campaign. Game was in Honduras and no Donovan but USA should have gotten a point here. Not a good start against what is likely third best team in hex after Mexico and USA. In theory USA should coast to Brazil but reality and theory never seem to track when it comes to USA soccer.
     
  2. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    It does seem that the US always finds a way to disappoint.
     
  3. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    Mexico drew with Jamaica 1-1 AT AZTECA, so they didnt exactly start well either. USA has a home match with Costa Rica next that is a must win followed by a road match at Mexico, cant come out of first three games without at least three points.
     
  4. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    Match day three is now in the books and the CONCACAF Hex has a surprise leader in Panama on five points. However, Panama have yet to play Mexico or the USA.

    There is a three way tie for second involving USA, Costa Rica and Honduras on four points each. Mexico sit in fifth on 3 points and Jamaica are sixth on 2 points.

    The USA travels to Jamaica June 7 and will be looking for road points (3 would be huge, 1 is a must) and then host group leaders Panama on June 11 in Seattle and Honduras on June 18 in Utah.

    Those 11 days in June will really tell the tale of the US path to Brazil. get 9 points and they will all but have qualified needing just 1 or 2 more results in last four game, get 7 and you are still sitting pretty, 5 means some tough sledding still to go and less than 5 will mean a lot of critical games in September/October which you really don't want to chance.

    Have to think at this point that 17 points will put the USA top 3 which auto qualify to Brazil. That is 13 more points from 7 games. the toughest are already behind the Americans at Honduras and at Mexico though you have to know Costa Rica will have something special to thank the US for snowmageddon.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    2 down and 1 to go in the June qualifiers and things could not have gone better for the USA. A road win in Jamaica and a home win over Panama have USA top of group and 2 points clear of second place Mexico and Costa Rica with 1 less game played than the Mexicans who have Confederations Cup play so they have already played match day 6 which the Americans play next Tuesday at home against honduras. Win that game and the US is 5 points clear of Mexico. never would have expected that.

    Still 5 matches to play but during the second half Tuesday against Panama Sam's Army started singing "We are going to Brazil" and all signs point to that with the two straight wins and great position the USA finds it in, [​IMG]
     
  6. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    [​IMG] USA defeats Honduras tonight 1-0 on another Jozy Altidore goal and sweeps the June qualifiers with three wins in three games to get 9 points and stand at 13 points through match day six a full five points clear of Mexico who are in third behind Costa Rica who sit on 11 points..

    No qualifiers now until September when the USA will visit Costa Rica and play at home against Mexico. At this point 3 more points is about all that is needed to finish top three and get to Brazil. With 4 matches still to play just one winning result will get the US to 16 points which should be enough to get through.

    Jozy Altidore scored in all three June qualifiers and along with his goal in the friendly against Germany has scored in 4 straight matches.

    On to September. [​IMG]
     
  7. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    The USA beats Mexico tonight in Columbus by a score of 2 - 0. Waiting on the Honduras Panama result and a clinched spot in Brazil. [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  8. NBHorn7

    NBHorn7 Pimp Daddy

    I guess the new coach for Mexico didn't help much. They seem to be in kind of a free fall.
     
  9. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    Last night saw the USA, Honduras and Mexico win. The USA has won the Hex with one match left to play on Tuesday in Panama. Honduras need only draw at Jamaica to clinch the third auto qualifier spot and Mexico can still auto qualify with a win at Costa Rica and a Honduras loss depending on goals scored and/or can clinch the fourth spot and a playoff with New Zealand if they do no worse than a draw in their last match. Panama need a 2 goal or more win over the USA and a Mexico loss to get the fourth spot and the playoff with New Zealand.

    Amazingly, a year ago the USA was struggling and had to get a last match day win over Guatemala just to make the Hex. Klinsmann was the subject of scathing articles and when the USA started the Hex with a loss at Honduras it seemed possible that the nightmare of not qualifying for Brazil was possible. Since that loss in Honduras the Americans have gone on the best run in their 100 year history including an unprecedented 12 match winning streak that included a Gold Cup win.

    The Klinsmann hire has definitely been a success this far and I have high hopes that this is a USA team that, in the right group, can get out of the group stage in Brazil and maybe even surprise someone in the round of 16. [​IMG]
     
  10. l00p

    l00p 10,000+ Posts

    I agree. You saved me many keystrokes.
     
  11. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    USA scores two injury time goals to beat Panama 3-2, you might call those goals the 600 million dollar goals at least from Mexico's perspective as they allow Mexico which lost to Costa Rica 2-1 to advance to the playoff with New Zealand next month for a slot in Brazil. Forbes estimated that Mexico not making the World Cup would cause that nation to lose something like 600 Million USD. So El Tri has the USA to thank for still being alive. Honduras drew with Jamaica to clinch the third auto spot.

    Mexico need to do some real soul searching ahead of their playoff next month. They literally backed in to a spot in that playoff and have only the fact that the USA played ethical and true soccer, something I have no doubt Mexico would NOT have done if the positions were reversed, to thank, for still having a shot at Brazil.

    The USA went 7-2-1 in this hex for a total of 22 points and a resounding first place finish. This team has more depth than any US team I have seen since they began this run of W/C's in 1990. That said a great 2013 means nothing if they dont show something when it counts next summer. [​IMG]
     

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