Published 27 March 2017
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY,ย Mon. Mar. 27, 2017: The Caribbean has gone from zero to two billionaires according to the latest rich list from Forbes Magazine.
Even though both billionaires were not born in the Caribbean, both claim Caribbean citizenship in the island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, thanks to the countryโs Citizenship by Investment Program.
Thursday Mar 23, 2017
Canada’s Fraser Aird (#12) watches his shot head towards goal in an international friendly against host Scotland on March 22, 2017, in Edinburgh. (Photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)
EDINBURGH, Scotland โ Canada played host Scotland to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly on Wednesday, before 9,158 fans at Easter Road.
With the result, the Canadians remained unbeaten in 2017, also posting a 4-2 win at Bermuda on January 22.
Midfielder Fraser Aird, who is based in Scotland with Falkirk, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.ย After Maxim Tissotโs left-sided cross was misplayed by Scotland defenders Lee Wallace and Charlie Mulgrew in the box, Aird, 22, was there to fire in with his right foot from 13-yards out for his first international goal.
Robert Snodgrass nearly equalized minutes later, when his left-footed cross from 38 yards skipped through the box, only to rebound off the left post.
In the 35th minute, Scotland leveled in pinball fashion.ย The Canadians couldnโt clear the ball after goalkeeper Simon Thomas made an initial save.ย Tom Cairney drove an effort towards goal that teammate Steven Naismith redirected into the right side of the net.
Canada’s best chance to regain the lead came in the 78th minute, but goalkeeper Allan McGregor did well to thwart Airdโs bid for a brace in his fifth international appearance.
Thursday Mar 23, 2017
Geoff Cameron (pictured) has played in six games and scored two goals during the USA’s qualifying campaign for Russia 2018. (Photo: Victor Straffon/Straffon Images)
SAN JOSE, California — After being out of action four months for club and country, United States standout Geoff Cameron is eager for a return to the international stage.
Forced to miss the first two games of the CONCACAF Hexagonal last November with a knee injury, the Stoke City defender admitted he felt powerless watching his teammates during a 4-0 loss at Costa Rica.
Cameron is ready to get the last-place U.S. (0W-0D-2L, 0 points) back on track in FIFA World Cup qualifying, hosting fourth-place Honduras (1-0-1, 3) at Avaya Stadium on Friday night.
“It was difficult,โ said the 31-year-old.ย “I was going through an injury back in England and things weren’t getting better, watching the game being helpless, knowing I could have been a player who affect the game.ย We lacked the energy, we lacked the aggressiveness that I bring and the quality that I can provide.”
A center back, Cameron arguably is the most consistent U.S. defender.ย The Americans are searching for backline stability after conceding six goals in the opening two matches.
“We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, but we should be fine,” he commented.ย “If we can perform very well Friday night and show that we can play with our confidence, and play our game plan, we should be OK.”
Honduras, one of three teams to beat the U.S. at home in qualifiers the past 30 years, has always been a thorn in the Americans’ sides.
“They’re a tough team,” stated Cameron.ย “They’re a resilient team.ย They have a good block on defense and have a couple of guys up top with some speed and some skill.ย We just got to make sure we control the game and dictate the pace of the game.”
Cameron felt that Bruce Arena, who replaced Jurgen Klinsmann as head coach, has given the team a breath of fresh air.
“It’s a different system, a different energy, a different feeling,” he finished.ย “The players haven’t changed much.ย You see some coaches come in and change the whole feeling of the team.ย Maybe that’s what we needed.
โThis is a big game and we have to take care of business.”
Thursday Mar 23, 2017
Costa Ricaโs Ramirez aims to repeat personal Azteca history
Head coach Oscar Ramirez (pictured) has Costa Rica atop the CONCACAF Hexagonal table after two rounds of games. (Photo: Victor Straffon/Straffon Images)
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica โ Costa Rica head coach Oscar Ramirez is one of the rare individuals with an ability to say that he has a perfect record as the visiting manager at Mexico Cityโs Estadio Azteca.
In his lone match at the famed venue, Ramirez led Alajuelense to a 1-0 win over Club America on the last week of 2013/14 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League group-stage play.ย The result eliminated the host from the competition and confirmed the Manudosโ place in the quarterfinals.
Now in charge of Costa Rica, Ramirez will be looking to achieve a similar feat on Friday, when his team faces Mexico on matchday three in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.ย The Ticos (2W-0D-0L, 6 points) top the Hexagonal table with maximum points from two games, while Mexico is second with four points.
โThey are different circumstances,โ said Ramirez at a Wednesday press conference, after being asked about the momentous triumph against Club America.ย โWhat it was with [Alajuelense] was a group that had been coming together.ย The boys had a great performance.โ
While Ramirez was hesitant to say that his experience of winning at the Azteca could be a factor Friday, the former Costa Rica international believes his squad is well prepared for the encounter.
โThey are always different things, in that moment it was a team and it was difficult because it was to play against America,โ the 52-year-old finished.ย โI feel that now years have gone by, I think studying the opponent gives you tranquility of taking the match as it comes.ย We have done serious study and we have sent that to the player.โ
USA forward Clint Dempsey (pictured) celebrates after scoring against Honduras in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the last game between the sides. (Photo: Mexsport)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
CONCACAF Qualifying — Final Round, Matchday 3
Date: March 24, 2017
Match: USA v Honduras
Venue: Avaya Stadium โ San Jose, California, USA
Time: 11:00 p.m. ET
MATCH OFFICIALS
A:
AR1:
AR2:
4th:
SUSPENSIONS
USA: Timothy Chandler, Jermaine Jones
Honduras: none
ALL-TIME WCQ SERIES
USA leads: 5W-2D-1L (13GF, 10GA)
LAST WCQ MEETING
February 6, 2013: Honduras 2, USA 1
Juan Carlos Garcia 40′; Jerry Bengtson 79′ / Clint Dempsey 36โ
FIVE MATCH WCQ FORM
USA: LLWWW
Honduras: WLDWW
CONCACAF QUALIFYING RESULTS
USA (Overall record: 4W-1D-3L โฆ 21GF, 9GA)
13.11.15 USA v St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6-1
17.11.15 Trinidad & Tobago v USA 0-0
25.03.16 Guatemala v USA 2-0
29.03.16 USA v Guatemala 4-0
02.09.16 St. Vincent & the Grenadines v USA 0-6
06.09.16 USA v Trinidad & Tobago 4-0
11.11.16 USA v Mexico 1-2
15.11.16 Costa Rica v USA 4-0
Honduras (Overall record: 3W-2D-3L โฆ 9GF, 8GA)
13.11.15 Canada v Honduras 1-0
17.11.15 Honduras v Mexico 2-0
25.03.16 El Salvador v Honduras 2-2
29.03.16 Honduras v El Salvador 2-0
02.09.16 Honduras v Canada 2-1
06.09.16 Mexico v Honduras 0-0
11.11.16 Honduras v Panama 0-1
15.11.16 Honduras v Trinidad & Tobago 3-1
CONCACAF QUALIFYING SCORERS
USA: Jozy Altidore (6); Bobby Wood (3); Geoff Cameron, Sacha Kljestan, Cristian Pulisic (2); Paul Arriola, Matt Besler, Clint Dempsey, Fabian Johnson, Gyasi Zardes, Graham Zusi (1)
Honduras: Romell Quioto (3); Alberth Elis, Oscar Garcia, Eddie Hernandez, Emilio Izaguirre, Antony Lozano, Mario Martinez (1)
FINAL ROUND SUMMARY
USA: The USA sits last in the final round after opening the Hexagonal with two straight defeats for the first-ever time, falling to Mexico (1-2, home) and Costa Rica (0-4, away). Against Mexico, the Americans lost at home in a World Cup qualifier for the first time in 34 years. The result ended a string of four straight 2-0 triumphs by the Americans over their southern neighbor at MAPFRE Stadium in CONCACAF qualifying. That setback was followed by a stunning loss at Costa Rica, which saw the Ticos net three times in during an eight-minute, second-half stretch.
Honduras: Honduras opened final-round play with a 1-0 loss to visiting Panama on November 11, 2016. Fidel Escobar scored the only goal in the 22nd minute, when his right-footed free kick from 22-yards out took a slight deflection off Hondurasโ Romell Quioto before hitting the back of the net. The Catrachos had two chances to equalize in the 57th minute, but Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo saved efforts from Diego Reyes and Alberth Elis.
FAST FACTS
USA
– Played in every World Cup from Italy 1990 through Brazil 2014 โฆ longest active streak by any CONCACAF side.
– Holds record for most Hexagonal wins (29) and most first-place finishes (3).
– Scored most goals in fourth-round WCQ play (20 โฆ Guatemala #2 with 18).
– 7-0-0 in last seven competitive matches (CONCACAF Gold Cup & WCQ) played in USA v Honduras.
Honduras
– Qualified for three FIFA World Cups, including the last two (1982, 2010, 2014).
– Has never won more than five games in three previous Hexagonal appearances.
– Conceded one goal or fewer in five consecutive WCQs.
– Competing in fourth Hexagonal.
