The third round of Concacaf qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™ continued on Friday with Curaçao usurping Jamaica at the top of Group B thanks to an impressive home victory. Trinidad and Tobago got their first win in the group in decisive fashion at Bermuda.
Meanwhile, in Group A, Suriname scored at the death to earn a point against Guatemala, as Panama emerged triumphant from their tough visit to El Salvador.
How qualifying works
In the third round of Concacaf qualifying, the group winners will qualify for the FIFA World Cup, joining hosts Canada, Mexico, and the USA. Additionally, the best two runners-up will represent Concacaf in the FIFA Play-off Tournament™. In total, the Concacaf region could have up to eight teams at the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
Group A
Suriname goal: Virgil Misidjan (90+4)
Guatemala goal: Darwin Lom (75)
A stoppage time strike from Virgil Misidjan rescued a dramatic draw for Suriname against Guatemala in Paramaribo.
Suriname started on the front foot and Guatemala shot-stopper Nicholas Hagen was fortunate to see Richonell Margaret’s hard hit roll off his fingertips on to the crossbar and back. Hagen then had to react to prevent Sheraldo Becker’s close-range header from finding the net.
Things stood on a knife’s edge as the minutes ticked away in the second half, but things would tilt in Guatemala’s favour when a Stheven Robles cross was chested away by a Suriname defender, falling perfectly for Darwin Lom to blast in a scissor-kick.
Just when it looked like Lom’s goal would hold, Misidjan steered in a low driving effort through a sea of legs to send the home fans into delirium.
Panama goal: Jose Fajardo (55)
Panama’s campaign got a big boost with a narrow win over El Salvador in San Salvador. The Estadio Custcatlan was at its very best, making for a scintillating setting and nearly carrying home striker Brayan Gil to an early opener.
Adalberto Carrasquilla was poised to squeeze in the opener for Panama on the brink of half-time, sending Mario Gonzalez scrambling to prevent the ball from trickling over the line. Gil then came within a whisker after the restart, but could not connect with a corner kick.
The breakthrough went Panama’s way, as Michael Murillo’s cross from the right was met in stride and tucked away by Jose Fajardo. El Salvador threw everything at Panama in the closing minutes, but the Canaleros stood firm until the end.
Group B
Trinidad and Tobago goals: Dante Sealy (10), Tyrese Spicer (30), Kobi Henry (49)
Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup hopes are alive and well after a commanding victory against Bermuda in Hamilton.
The Soca Warriors got just the start they needed, as Levi Garcia did well to evade two defenders and cut back to Dante Sealy, who had an easy sweep into net. They then made it two when a miscue from the Bermuda defence allowed Tyrese Spicer to swoop in, round goalkeeper Dale Eve and finish into an open net.
It was a similar story in the second half, and the visitors carved out their third when Kobi Henry guided in a header from the rebound of a blocked free-kick. From there, Trinidad and Tobago saw things out to secure their first win of the round.
Curaçao goals: Livano Comenencia (14), Kenji Gorre (68)
It was a night to remember in Willemstad as Curaçao celebrated their national holiday with an emphatic win over Jamaica. The home fans were in full voice early on, as Livano Comenencia took a Juninho Bacuna pass and blasted past Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake home from inside the area.
All of the momentum was with the hosts and they had several more cracks at a second in the first half, including a wicked hit from Jearl Margaritha that flashed wide.
Jamaica went to work on finding an equaliser, with Jonathan Russell and Renaldo Cephas each posing a threat, but instead Curaçao bagged a second through some excellent work from Kenji Gorre, whose right-footed shot curled past Blake to seal the points.
Photos courtesy of Guatemalan Football Federation, Concacaf
