The third round of Concacaf qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™ kicked off on Thursday with El Salvador striking late to sink Guatemala. The victory catapulted La Selecta to the top of Group A, as Panama and Suriname shared the spoils to open the day.
How qualifying works
In the third round of Concacaf qualifying, the group winners will qualify for the 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 World Cup for the first time.
Group A
Panama and Suriname opened the group in Paramaribo with a scoreless draw in which the visitors were left to rue missed chances.
It was a nervy start from the two, with Suriname looking to use their speed and strike on the counter. Panama stayed patient in their attempts to pick the Suriname lock and came within a whisker of a breakthrough shortly before half-time, when Cristian Martinez saw a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Djevencio van der Kust.
Suriname found their stride in the second stanza. Denzel Jubitana looked set to stun the visitors, but saw his shot graze the top of the crossbar. Back came Panama and midway through the half it took the post to deny Ismael Diaz.
Panama were the stronger side in the waning minutes, testing the reflexes of Suriname No1 Etienne Vaessen, who had to make a reaction save to prevent a Jose Fajardo header from serving as the match-winner.
El Salvador goal: Harold Osorio (79)
El Salvador surged to the top of the group with Harold Osorio supplying a late winner against Guatemala in Guatemala City.
There was little between the two sides at the start, with the closest chance in the opening half-hour being an Oscar Santis cross for Guatemala that was intended for Rubio Rubin, but instead went untouched and flashed wide of the post.
El Salvador’s biggest threat in the first 45 came from a Jefferson Valladares deep cross from the right wing that forced the Guatemalan defence into a hurried clearance. Guatemala started to mount pressure in the second half, forcing visiting goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez into making a pair of reaction saves.
Just when it looked like Guatemala would find a breakthrough, El Salvador struck for the lone goal, as Osorio fought off a defender and steered home off a corner kick to stun the home fans.
What they said…
“I’m not satisfied with the result, I wanted the victory. We have to improve on certain facets of the game if we want to win the next one.”
Thomas Christiansen, Panama coach
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Photos courtesy of FEPAFUT
