"When you meet one of the so-called smaller teams, nothing is going to be given to you. You still have to go out there and beat them. Who knows, we could hit the crossbar eight times and they could have the game of their lives. We could find ourselves out of contention before the real competition even begins. This is soccer, and it's not played on paper." –Landon Donovan, United States of AmericaBarbados came to Carson City to play North American champions United States of America in the first leg of their second round encounter. The focused hosts were not what one would call merciful, and they executed a veritable slaughter of the islanders. This first goal showed up within the first two minutes, and the halftime score was 3-0. Things did not get better for Barbados, who may have wondered whether their defeat of Dominica was a good thing considering their reward. Five second-half goals, including three in the final seven minutes, gave the Americans an 8-0 blowout win and an insurmountable lead in the aggregate.
Canada visited Kingstown in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in what was on paper supposed to be one of the best Round Two matchups. Canada threw that assessment out the window. They scored twice on their hosts in the first half, and they added a third to win 3-0 on the road. Canada come home to Montréal for the second leg of this two-legged playoff.
"I know we can do it if we work hard enough. Not many people here have faith in us, so it's up to us to prove them wrong. The draw has been fairly kind to us and we have to exploit that. If we believe in ourselves, we can exceed all expectations." -Wagneau Eloi of Haiti
Netherlands Antilles have been a pleasant surprise in qualifying so far. Surely, a matchup with Haiti beginning in Haiti would slow them down. Not so, my friends. Perhaps the comments of Eloi deeming the Antilleans weak gave them added vigor. Neither team was able to score, and Netherlands Antilles come win simply needing a home win to become a surprising Round Three contestant.
"A few years ago maybe we just went out to make up the numbers. But now, we truly believe." -striker Deon Macaulay of Belize
México got a trip to the wonderful city of Houston, United States of America, for the road leg of their playoff with Belize. México certainly had plenty of supporters in Houston, but they were not too pleased by the play of México. No one had pushed a goal across in the first forty-five, but México finally scored halfway through the next half. "We faced a team who were well-organized at the back," explained México’s Jared Borghetti. A late penalty kick gave the Mexicans a 2-0 aggregate lead for their return home.
Bermuda if known for capturing ships within its Bermuda Triangle, but the Bermudans seemed to have brought over this strange force on their trip to Macoya in Trinidad and Tobago. The 2006 World Cup participants got off to a terrible start to their 2010 campaign. Bermuda took a 1-0 lead early, gave it back, and then reclaimed it, all within the first half. Their 2-1 lead was not altered in the second half, and the Bermudans pulled off the shock of the day and bring a 2-1 aggregate lead home for leg two against the Trinidadians.
Bermuda's goal scorer John Barry Nusum analyzed his team's play afterwards. "We were just trying to feel them out in the first ten minutes and not concede a goal. It's a normal tactic on the road, but before you knew it, Khano [Smith] and I linked up and I found myself alone in front of goal. All I had to do was poke it in."
"We know it won't be easy because El Salvador have a very good Mexican coach, some quality players and plenty of pace. We will have to be on form and not approach the game with over-confidence. It's an opportunity we must not waste. It's a momentous time for the squad and we must not allow our dream to slip away." –Panamá defender Felipe Baloy
El Salvador versus Panamá promised to be the finest of the second-round matchups. The first of the two-part series took place in Panamá. Panamá incited PanaMania for their fans with a goal midway through the first period that gave the home side a 1-0 edge. Things became more interesting when Panamá went a man down due to Juan Pérez’s ejected in minute sixty-one for his second yellow. Nevertheless, El Salvador could not cut into the lead with a score, and the frustration showed. Alfredo Pacheco was thrown out in the final minutes for a red card, and the score finished 1-0 in Panamá’s favor.
Bahamas went to Jamaica hoping to be more like Bermuda than Barbados. They ended up more like the latter, as their Jamaican hosts started a party for their crowd in Kingston. Jamaica poured in seven unanswered goals, with four of them coming in the second forty-five minutes. Jamaica are going to Round Three barring a Bahaman miracle in the second leg.
Goal scorers:
United States of America: Dempsey 2, 63; Bradley 12; Ching 20, 86, 89; Donovan 59; E. Johnson 83
Canada: Nakjima-Farran 32; Gerba 43, 88
México: Vela 66; Borghetti 90+2 PK
Bermuda: Nusum 8, 40
Trinidad and Tobago: S. John 22
Panamá: Tejada 21
Jamaica: Gardner 17; Phillips 22; King 25; Shelton 51, 64; A. Williams 66; Daley 80
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