|
Guatemala Vs. Jamaica 10/12/12 |
|
|
|
|
The International Break returns this week with the continuation of World Cup Qualifying around the globe, this match comes from CONCACAF and sees Jamaica travel to Guatemala City and Estadio Mateo Flores to take on Guatemala in a key Group A match
Guatemala comes into this match as part of a three way tie with current opposition Jamaica and USA with only two matches remaining to determine which two nations advance to the final round know as “The Hex”. Coach Ever Almeida knows the two remaining matches against Jamaica and USA will be a tough ask but will be relying on their veteran players hitting good form, the likes of veteran forwards Carlos Ruiz and Mario Rodriguez as well as the nations most talented player in midfielder Marco Pappa, while Pappa is the playmaker and Rodriguez plays a supporting forward role the main player on this squad for quite a few years is ex-MLS Carlos Ruiz whom is one of the more clinical forwards in CONCACAF.
Jamaica will be fairly confident coming into this match even as a visiting side to Guatemala City, as they have beaten Guatemala in the opening match of the group stages by a 2-1 score line and have performed well against USA on two occasions beating them 2-1 at home and only losing 1-0 away. Coach Theodore Whitmore has his squad playing quite well and has some depth in the attacking positions, especially in the forward positions with the likes of Forward Darren Mattocks, Omar Cummings, Ryan Johnson and Luton Shelton. In the two matches against USA Coach Whitmore opted to use Darren Mattocks as a “super sub”, it will be interesting to see if that changes in the remaining two matches of the round. From a defensive perspective the play of Houston Dynamo duo Jevaughn Watson and Jermaine Taylor will be important, as the Reggae Boyz play at their best on the counter attack and hitting the wide positions with pace.
I’ll go with the OVER in this match, both sides see this as a huge game given the three way tie in the group and group rivals USA playing lowly Antigua and Barbuda. Guatemala look to be the better defensive side but with this being a home match and their final opponents are traveling to Kansas City only days later to play USA I don’t see them making this a cagey affair for the majority of the match.
|
