U.S. Advances in World Cup Qualifying
In what was already a foregone conclusion, the United States officially advanced into the regional semifinals of the Soccer Betting 2010 World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 win against Barbados in their second leg match on Sunday. The United States had already won the first leg 8-0, so the second leg was just a formality. Eddie Lewis scored the U.S. goal on Sunday in the 21st minute with an assist from Freddy Adu. It was the 10th goal in 80 International appearances for Lewis.
The United States changed a number of starters for the second leg. Only goalkeeper Brad Guzan, midfielders Michael Bradley and DaMarcus Beasley and defender Heath Pearce played in both legs. Since the game really meant nothing most of the top U.S. players did not play. Barbados actually could have tied the game but Emerson Boyce had his header bounce of the crossbar in the 58th minute. Barbados was also ruled offside in the 86th minute or they would have scored the tying goal.
Soccer Betting at SBG Global.
The United States now moves into the regional semifinals. They will be joined by Guatemala, which defeated St. Lucia 9-1 on aggregate, Trinidad and Tobago who just got by Bermuda 3-2 on aggregate and Cuba who defeated Antigua and Barbuda 8-3 on aggregate.
In the Central American and Caribbean regions, teams that advanced were Mexico who dismantled Belize 9-0 on aggregate, Jamaica who throttled Bahamas 13-0 on aggregate, Honduras who took out Puerto Rico 6-2 on aggregate, Canada who routed St. Vincent/Grenadines 7-1 on aggregate, Costa Rica who got by Grenada 5-2 on aggregate, Suriname who defeated Guyana 3-1 on aggregate, El Salvador who beat Panama 3-2 on aggregate and Haiti who just got by Netherlands Antilles 1-0 on aggregate.
The United States will now move into group stage action in Group A with Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and Cuba. Group B will have Mexico, Jamaica, Honduras and Canada while Group C will have Costa Rica, Suriname, El Salvador and Haiti. The top two teams from each of these groups will qualify for the six-team CONCACAF hexagonal where the top three teams will qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The fourth place finisher will face CONMEBOL’s fifth place finisher in a playoff.
