Two Houston Dynamo players saw action on Wednesday as the first round of games in the final round of World Cup qualifying kicked off.
2012 Dynamo Newcomer of the Year Boniek Garcia started and played 90 minutes for Honduras, as Los Catrachos defeated the U.S. men's national team 2-1 at Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula. Garcia assisted on Honduras' second goal and was a constant threat for the host side. Four-time Dynamo team MVP Brad Davis was on the team sheet but did not feature for the USMNT.
Although many soccer pundits consider Honduras' win over the USMNT an upset, the real surprise of the day came in the evening, as Jamaica held off Mexico for a 0-0 draw at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Dynamo defender Jermaine Taylor started and played 90 minutes for the Reggae Boyz. Taylor was strong along the Jamaican back line and helped to keep a Mexican squad that featured Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Andres Guardado, Giovani Dos Santos and Oribe Peralta off the board. Dynamo midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson was on the team sheet for Jamaica, but did not feature in the match.
After the first set of Hexagonal matches, Garcia and Honduras sit alone in first place in the group. The top three teams will automatically qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The fourth place team will play a one-game playoff with the winner of the Oceania qualifiers.
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Games Played</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<strong>Pts</strong> |
Honduras |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
+1 |
3 |
Costa Rica |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Panama |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Jamaica |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Mexico |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
United States |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
VIDEO: Boniek Garcia assists on Honduras' game-winner
