Two CONCACAF spots go out today, as does the Oceanic interconfederational spot from the Qatar Invitational.

To that end:

Solomon Islands 0-1 New Zealand 26'

Tuiloma gets the goal. Winner probably gets Costa Rica, unless Costa Rica routs the USA by half a dozen or so goals.

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

New Zealand has a second ruled out -- they say it was a foul on the player with the goalkeeper. I think a handball on him might've been closer, but oof.

Still 0-1 to New Zealand 38'

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

And just as I finish typing that, New Zealand cleanly doubles their advantage with an unmarked header from the six.

SOL 0-2 NZL 40'

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On 2022-03-30 11:28, Michael Falkner wrote:

Two CONCACAF spots go out today, as does the Oceanic interconfederational spot from the Qatar Invitational.

To that end:

Solomon Islands 0-1 New Zealand 26'

Tuiloma gets the goal. Winner probably gets Costa Rica, unless Costa Rica routs the USA by half a dozen or so goals.

Mike

Though it is very unlikely, Mexico could lose 0-2 at home to El
Salvador, and Costa Rica could beat the USA by 3 goals, which would put
Mexico in the playoff spot.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
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On Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 10:43:04 AM UTC-7, MH wrote:

Though it is very unlikely, Mexico could lose 0-2 at home to El
Salvador, and Costa Rica could beat the USA by 3 goals, which would put Mexico in the playoff spot.

Good point.

I think we can at least agree that the likely need for Costa Rica is some sort of shocking result against the United States tonight.

----------------------

Oceania Final is at halftime.

Tuiloma and Wood have New Zealand comfortably ahead.

SOL 0-2 NZL HT

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

An Olympico corner, and the rout is on.

SOL 0-3 NZL 50'

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

Another corner, another header, another New Zealand goal.

SOL 0-4 NZL 70'
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 2:28:11 p.m. UTC-4, Michael Falkner wrote:

Another corner, another header, another New Zealand goal.

SOL 0-4 NZL 70'

It is hard to gauge, but would New Zealand beat a team like Costa Rica? There was a time when New Zealand had a tough team.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 11:39:14 AM UTC-7, Binder Dundat wrote:

On Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 2:28:11 p.m. UTC-4, Michael Falkner wrote:

Another corner, another header, another New Zealand goal.

SOL 0-4 NZL 70'

It is hard to gauge, but would New Zealand beat a team like Costa Rica? There was a time when New Zealand had a tough team.

Impossible to gauge under these conditions.

That said, they will get Costa Rica unless Costa Rica pulls off quite something tonight:

SOL 0-5 NZL FT

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

And it doesn't look like Costa Rica is going to get enough to pass the USA or Mexico:

CRC 0-0 USA 49'

MEX 2-0 SLV HT

PAN 0-0 CAN 46'

JAM 2-1 HON....

And hold that thought. Five more to go for Costa Rica and 39 minutes to get them. Juan Pablo Vargas with the breakthrough.

CRC 1-0 USA 51'

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

Looks like the Costa Rican keeper is standing on his head to hold the 1-0...

CRC 1-0 USA 56'

But Panama have scored. Gabriel Torres puts them up 1-0 on Canada.

PAN 1-0 CAN 51'
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
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OK HERE!!!

CRC 2-0 USA 59'

Anthony Contreras gets the second!

Well, they got two in eight minutes. They need four more in 30.

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

As of right now, Costa Rica need four goals or El Salvador need three to get Costa Rica the automatic spot.

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

In article <a9391f53-2e2f-4da7-bca8-0ed04955cb0bn@googlegroups.com>,
Michael Falkner <darkstar7646@gmail.com> wrote:

And it doesn't look like Costa Rica is going to get enough to pass the
USA or Mexico:

CRC 0-0 USA 49'

MEX 2-0 SLV HT

PAN 0-0 CAN 46'

JAM 2-1 HON....

And hold that thought. Five more to go for Costa Rica and 39 minutes to
get them. Juan Pablo Vargas with the breakthrough.

CRC 1-0 USA 51'

Mike

PAN 1 - CAN 0 63'
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@@nl2k.ab.ca Ici doctor@@nl2k.ab.ca
Yahweh, Queen & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism https://www.empire.kred/ROOTNK?t=94a1f39b Who hates them more than those who would let them suffer? -unknown Beware https://mindspring.com
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

Finally, something of (minimal) consequence: Canada have squared with Panama.

PAN 1-1 CAN 80'

Cyle Larin squares the match ten minutes from time.

JAM 2-1 HON 83'

And in the two relevant matches:

MEX 2-0 SLV 80'

CRC 2-0 USA 87'

Group would end CAN by one point over MEX, USA third.

CAN, MEX, USA to Qatar 2022

CRC vs. NZL for another spot in June.

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

Scratch that Canadian goal -- the VAR is the villain of this picture.

Just offside, apparently.

PAN 1-0 CAN 81' -- sounds like the Panama coach has been sent from the touchline.

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

And that will do it.
For those who bemoan the USA's performance tonight: Central America has always been a bitch to the USA in these qualifiers. ALWAYS.
And there was so much margin that, as one Redditor put it, the message was to make sure no one got hurt and no one got suspended.
CRC-USA 2-0 FT
On group goal difference, United States becomes the second CONCACAF qualifier over Costa Rica, and the 28th of the 32 qualified teams.
Costa Rica will have go to Qatar to face Oceania champion New Zealand for one of the final three spots in June.
-------------------------
MEX 2-0 SLV FT
Goals by Antuna and a penalty by Jimenez get the job done. Mexico finishes second in the Octagonal and becomes the third automatic CONCACAF qualifier and the 29th team to go through.
-------------------------
JAM-HON 2-1 FT
Ravel Morrison gets the winner in first-half stoppage time after the teams traded first-half penalties.
-------------------------
Lots and lots of extra time in Panama for a result which is basically meaningless. (I guess there is the irony that, though Canada actually (and quite deservedly!) won the CONCACAF Octagonal, they, by fuller rankings, fall to the lowest pot tonight of the World Cup draw.)
Torres' goal stands after a Canadian equalizer is VAR'd offside.
PAN 1-0 CAN FT
CAN 28 pts +16 GD
MEX 28 pts +9 GD
USA 25 pts +11 GD
CRC 25 pts +5 GD
PAN 21 pts -2 GD
JAM 11 pts -10 GD
SLV 10 pts -10 GD
HON 4 pts -19 GD
Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

In article <497ccb7c-4128-4f5f-8a91-8806058b56d4n@googlegroups.com>,
Michael Falkner <darkstar7646@gmail.com> wrote:

And that will do it.

For those who bemoan the USA's performance tonight: Central America has >always been a bitch to the USA in these qualifiers. ALWAYS.

And there was so much margin that, as one Redditor put it, the message
was to make sure no one got hurt and no one got suspended.

CRC-USA 2-0 FT

On group goal difference, United States becomes the second CONCACAF
qualifier over Costa Rica, and the 28th of the 32 qualified teams.

Costa Rica will have go to Qatar to face Oceania champion New Zealand
for one of the final three spots in June.

-------------------------

MEX 2-0 SLV FT

Goals by Antuna and a penalty by Jimenez get the job done. Mexico
finishes second in the Octagonal and becomes the third automatic
CONCACAF qualifier and the 29th team to go through.

-------------------------

JAM-HON 2-1 FT

Ravel Morrison gets the winner in first-half stoppage time after the
teams traded first-half penalties.

-------------------------

Lots and lots of extra time in Panama for a result which is basically >meaningless. (I guess there is the irony that, though Canada actually
(and quite deservedly!) won the CONCACAF Octagonal, they, by fuller
rankings, fall to the lowest pot tonight of the World Cup draw.)

Torres' goal stands after a Canadian equalizer is VAR'd offside.

PAN 1-0 CAN FT

CAN 28 pts +16 GD
MEX 28 pts +9 GD
USA 25 pts +11 GD

CRC 25 pts +5 GD

PAN 21 pts -2 GD
JAM 11 pts -10 GD
SLV 10 pts -10 GD
HON 4 pts -19 GD

Mike

Draw tomorrow.
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@@nl2k.ab.ca Ici doctor@@nl2k.ab.ca
Yahweh, Queen & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism https://www.empire.kred/ROOTNK?t=94a1f39b Who hates them more than those who would let them suffer? -unknown Beware https://mindspring.com
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)