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      American women footballers latest to qualify for Paris

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      The world champion American women's footballers have qualified for the Paris 2024 football tournament while Canada and Jamaica will face off in a two-legged "Olympic play-in" for the second and final North American spot in September 2023.
       
      On finals day in the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, the third-placed play-off was held before the final at Estadio BBVA in Guadelupe, home of Monterrey CF, one of the continent's biggest men's football clubs. In the third-placed match, Jamaica took on Haiti with the winner keeping their Olympic dream alive in the play-in. And perhaps nerves were shown in a tetchy game that was goalless after ninety minutes. But in extra time a lovely through ball found Kalyssa Vanzanten who made no mistake to give Jamaica the win.
       
      In the final, it was another close affair that was decided by one goal. Alyssa Chapman put a hand on Rose Lavelle in the box who went down to give the Americans a rather soft penalty, and Alex Morgan sent the admittedly dominant side the wrong way to give them the win. What that means is the US qualify for the Olympics and the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup, as well as win the trophy, while defending Olympic champions Canada have to face Jamaica in the Olympic play-in. The US now have both sets of quotas in football and the women's team have qualified for every football event in Olympic history.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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      South American women's footballers latest to fight for Olympic dream

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      While the CONCACAF W Championship reaches its conclusion, south of the Darién Gap the women's footballers are also pursuing their Olympic dream.
       
      The 2022 Copa América Feminina is being held in Colombia, with all ten South American countries entering: no need for qualification here. They have been split into groups of five. In Group A; Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador do battle, while in Group B it is Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Peru.
       
      Group A will predominantly be played in Cali's Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero, home of three football clubs from Colombia's top two tiers of men's football, while Group B will take place mostly in Estadio Centenario in the city of Armenia, home of second-tier Deportes Quindío, champions of Colombia back in 1956. The only exception is the final day, as two games will take place simultaneously, thus using both stadiums.
       
      The top two teams in each group will reach the semi-finals, while there will also be a fifth-placed play-off between the two countries in third in their respective groups. The third-placed play-off and the fifth-placed play-off will take place in the Estadio Centenario, but the semi-finals and final will take place in Estadio Alfonso López in Bucaramanga, home of top-tier Atlético Bucaramanga. There is some real talent on display with Brazil heavy favourites, and even without qualification spots for the Olympics, World Cup, and Pan American Games, this competition means a lot: the winner has the right to call themselves champions of South America.
       
      The qualification process is simple for the Olympics: the two finalists will be in Paris, and the other eight countries won't be. In terms of the Women's World Cup, the top three countries will qualify a place, while those in fourth and fifth will qualify for the inter-continental play-offs next year in New Zealand. Finally, the top three teams other than automatic qualifiers Chile, who are hosting, will qualify for the Pan American Games.
       
      With the tournament underway we won't have to wait long to find out who will carry South American hopes into the women's football tournament at Paris 2024.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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    • Mkbw50

      Paris 2024: Table Tennis reveals qualification procedure, Football updates document

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      Paris 2024 qualification is in full swing and we have received our latest update from the International Olympic Committee.
       
      Table Tennis has confirmed its qualification procedure for the Games, leaving just Athletics, Aquatics, and the Cycling discipline of BMX Freestyle to go. Furthermore, Football has updated its procedure.
       
      Table Tennis
       
      Table Tennis maintains the same programme from 2020: a singles event for both genders, a team event for both genders, and a mixed doubles event. The quotas are also unchanged, with 86 men and 86 women. Each country can have two athletes per singles event, and one team of three or mixed doubles pairing in the other events. In total, this represents three men and three women as a maximum over the programme. Out of the 86 quota spots per gender, three are reserved for the hosts and one for universality places.
       
      For the team event, there will be sixteen teams per gender. The winners of each continental qualification event (dates and locations TBC), as well as the runners-up for the Americas, will earn one team (a total of six), while the quarter-finalists from the 2024 World Teams Championships (16-25 February 2024, Busan, KOR) will also snag a quota. The highest ranked team not already qualified in the 2024 World Team Ranking (published immediately at the end of the WTC) will also qualify. Finally, the host nation will also qualify a place (unless already qualified in which the place will be reallocated to the ranking).
       
      For the mixed doubles, again there will be sixteen pairs. Again, six will qualify from continental qualification events (the winners of each plus the runners-up for the Americas), while the semifinalists at a Designated Qualification Event (exact dates and locations TBC) at March or April 2024 will also get a place. The five highest ranked pairs in the Mixed Doubles Ranking of 7 May 2024 will also get a place, as will the hosts France (if they have already qualified a sixth pair will get the spot). A Mixed Doubles member must also be part of the Team if an NOC qualifies athletes in both the Mixed Doubles and the Team event for the relevant gender.
       
      For the singles event, the sixteen teams will see their two highest members based on the World Ranking of 18 June 2024 qualify a place, for a total of thirty-two. Twenty-two places will be won by continent, by Continental Qualification Events (exact dates and locations TBC) that will be held in early May 2024, with six being earned in Asia and Europe, five being earned in the Americas, four in Africa, and one in Oceania. Mixed Doubles athletes will also be able to enter, and then fifteen (less the Mixed Doubles athletes) will qualify through the Singles World Ranking of 18 June 2024. Finally, one universality place will be added.
       
      This system has a few changes from 2020: the North American and Latin American continents have been combined into one "Americas" continent, the team event now has one ranking place, and so on, but the system is very similar to 2020.
       
      Football
       
      Football hastily published their qualification system's first draft last month but left all but the North American qualification events as TBC, but have now published an update. On the women's side, we now know that the Asian qualifier (worth two spots) will be the Asian Qualifiers for the 2024 Women's Olympic Football Tournament (dates and locations TBC), although details on this remain scarce. More significant is the South American qualifier (also worth two spots), the Copa América Feminina 2022 (Various locations, 8-30 July 2022), which is already underway. On the men's side, the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup (dates and locations TBC) is confirmed as the Asian qualifier, worth 3.5 spots.
       
      We are now very close to having a full set of qualification documents, with just a few federations to go.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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    • Mkbw50

      USA, Canada into CONCACAF W Championship final

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      The familar rivalry between the United States and Canada will see its latest chapter in Mexico as both teams reached the final of the CONCACAF W Championship, the North American women's football qualifier.
       
      In the first semifinal of two played as a double-header at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza, the US took on Costa Rica. The Americans pushed early on but were met by stubborn resistance. But the reigning world champions are used to 'winning ugly' if they have to, and their opening goal certainly met that description: a goalmouth scramble after a corner poked home by Emily Sonnett. Las Ticas were up against it now, and they couldn't keep the deficit to one before half-time; first a goal was disallowed for offside before the Stars and Stripes did get number two thanks to a lovely back-heeled assist pounced upon by Mallory Pugh in injury time. There was still time for one more goal, although the Americans would have to wait until second half injury time to get it: a ball over the top eventually found its way to Ashley Sanchez who smashed the USWNT into the final.
       
      In the second game, it was Canada that faced Jamaica. Similarly to the first game, it was a big name against an underdog, and that big name found the lead early when a cross was deflected into the path of Jessie Fleming who nodded home. Canada never looked back after that, adding two more goals in the second half: first Allysha Chapman headed home a cross to the far post, before another cross was headed on to Adriana Leon who tapped home for three.
       
      This sets up two crucial games, to be played as a double header at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, which is a stadium fit for champions: five-time CONCACAF Champions League winners CF Monterrey call it home. Firstly, in the third-placed play-off, Costa Rica face Jamaica, before the world champion Americans take on the Olympic champions Canada in the final.
       
      The winners of the competition will qualify for the Olympics directly, as well as have the luxury of foregoing qualifying for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup. Second and third will play in the "Olympic play-in" in 2023, while the fourth-placed team will see their Olympic dream die for this cycle.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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    • Mkbw50

      Four countries through in North American women's football qualifier

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      The group stage of the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship is over, and with it the Olympic dream of four countries.
       
      Group A kicked off with a double-header at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza. Firstly, the US took on Haiti, and it was the Americans that took the lead with a deft touch from Alex Morgan to convert a touch. And the two-time Olympic medallist headed home another cross not long after to double the lead. Haiti had a chance to come back but missed a penalty just before half-time, and in the second half time ticked away with the US extending their lead late on as a cross wasn't cleared fully by Haiti and Margaret Purce converted to make it 3-0, which was how it finished. In the other game, hosts Mexico took on Jamaica. It was the visitors who took the lead through a Khadija Shaw header and never let it go, the score finishing 1-0 despite Jamaica missing a penalty.
       
      On the second day, there was another double-header, this time in Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe. Jamaica took on the US but there would be no repeat of the Reggae Girlz' heroics as they were taught a lesson by the reigning world champions. An absolutely fantastic goal from Sophia Smith early on put the Stars and Stripes ahead and the Portland Thorns forward soon added second to double the lead. In the second half, Rose Lavelle forced home a cross that eluded everyone else before Purce was bundled down by Paige Bailey-Gayle in the box and Kristie Mewis converted the spotkick. There was still a bit more time left and Trinity Rodman put in a cross to round up a resounding 5-0 win. That was followed by a clash between Haiti and Mexico. And La Tri's awful tournament went from bad to worse when Stephany Mayor brought down Batcheba Louis in the box and Roselord Boreglla put Haiti one up. And Haiti pushed, having a goal disallowed before Nérilia Monsédir was through on goal in a second half and was bundled down while through on goal by keeper Emily Alvarado before picking herself up and dispatching the penalty. Melchie Durmonay was brought down by last player Greta Espinoza who was shown red after a video assistant referee (VAR) check completing a desperate few days for Mexico, whose humiliation wasn't quite over: Sherly Jeudy converted the free-kick to complete a 3-0 win.
       
      On the final day, the two games were concurrent, with the US taking on Mexico in San Nicolás de los Garza and Jamaica facing Haiti in Guadelupe. In the derby that defines CONCACAF football on the men's side but is incredibly one-sided on the women's side, the previously hapless Mexico showed some pride against the world champions, taking the game late before making their task harder as Jacqueline Ovalle got shown a straight red for an awful challenge on Lavelle. Even then, La Tri took the US to the very end with an 89th minute rebound from Kristie Mewis earning them the win. This meant that the US would go through as group winners, while Mexico finished bottom and their Olympic and World Cup dream is over for another cycle: as they last qualified for Canada 2015 that will mean more than a decade without playing in either of those competitions, while it will be at least a 24 year gap in between Olympic qualifications, last reaching the Games in Athens 2004.
       
      This meant that Jamaica vs Haiti was a straight shootout for the second spot in the group, but the game was one-sided. Trudi Carter put Jamaica ahead in the first half before a long shot from Shaw found its way in. Things got worse for Les Grenadières when Claire Constant handled the ball in the box and Shaw converted the penalty, before a comprehensive performance was wrapped up when Drew Spence headed home number four. To be fair, 4-0 was quite a deceptive scoreline in a end-to-end game but it featured suspect goalkeeping and defending for Haiti. Jamaica will play the Group B winners in the semifinal, while Haiti miss out on the Olympics but will go to the World Cup play-offs in New Zealand.
       
      In Group B a double-header in Guadelupe got us underway with Costa Rica facing Panama in the first game. Costa Rica took an early lead as Raquel Rodríguez headed home a corner and things only got better for Las Ticas as a fine effort from María Paula Salas doubled their lead before VAR picked up Katherine Castillo's foul on Rodríguez in the box and Katherine Alvarado stepped up to convert the penalty for a 3-0 win. Later on, Canada took on Trinidad and Tobago and it was Catherine Sinclair that headed home a cross to open the scoring for the Olympic champions. They would miss a penalty but then extend this lead with a second half blitz: Julia Grosso with a smart finish to double the lead before the same player forced home a near-post effort. Then a cutback found Jessie Fleming who had an easy finish for four, before a lovely through ball found Janine Beckie who made it five. There was time for one more when Jordyn Huitema was found in space and scored in injury time to make it end 6-0.
       
      The second double-header was in San Nicolás de los Garza and Trinidad and Tobago faced Costa Rica. The Soca Princesses were already having a hard time and the last thing they needed was bad luck, but went behind when Cristin Granados' long range effort from a corner deflected in. The game seemed beyond all doubt early on when Kedie Johnson earned a second yellow card for taking out María Paula Coto trying to recover a heavy touch. And things did indeed get worse for the Caribbean side when Lauryn Hutchinson managed to put a corner into her own net. Just before half time, another deflection gave Granados her second goal and in the second half an early thunderbolt from Alvarado added some gloss to the scoreline, wrapping up a 4-0 win. In the later game, Panama faced Canada and the latter had to labour to victory, with Grosso finding the ball in the box and showing patience to score the game's only goal.
       
      The final day saw Panama and Trinidad and Tobago, who were both already out, battle for the World Cup play-off spot in San Nicolás de los Garza. Marta Cox scored the only goal of the game to give Panama the win. It seemed that Trinidad and Tobago were never really at the races in this tournament, while Panama also struggled but at least join Haiti in New Zealand. In the other game, held at the same time in Guadalupe, Canada and Costa Rica faced off for top spot. An early goal from Fleming on the break before a nice effort from Sophie Schmidt went in off the post to give Canada the 2-0 win.
       
      This means that in the semi-finals, the US will face Costa Rica before Jamaica take on Canada at a double header in San Nicolás de los Garza. All four teams have now qualified for the FIFA 2023 Women's World Cup. The winner of the competition will qualify directly for the Olympics (and also for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup), while the runners-up and third-placed team will face off in an "Olympic play-in" in 2023. The fourth-placed team will see their Olympic dreams die, alongside Haiti, Mexico, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago, who are eliminated from competition.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
       
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      American and Dominican men's footballers qualify for Paris 2024

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      The North American men's football qualifiers are set with the CONCACAF Under 20 Championship now complete.
       
      The semifinals took place in Estadio Morazán in San Pedro Sula, with the winners of each knowing they would qualify to Paris 2024 as the two representatives of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic took on Guatemala in the first game with Guatemala racing into an early lead. First Arquimides Ordoñez headed home a cross before Sebastián Mañón poked a teasing ball into his own goal. But the Dominican Republic fought back with two goals in quick succession in the second half: first Guillermo de Peña took advantage of a loose ball before Edison Azcona's low long shot found its way in. No more goals would come in regulation time, and extra time was mostly uneventful, apart from a Dominican penalty being overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR). So the Olympic spot and a place in the final would be decided on penalties. First Thomas Jungbauer stepped up for the Dominican Republic and sent the goalie the wrong way. And they had a clear advantage when Mathius Gaitán hit the post. But when Ángel Montes De Oca skied it and Daniel Cardoza dispatched his spot-kick the scores were level again. Azcona and Johnathan Franco both looked as cool as a cucumber, so it was 2-2 with two penalties each left. De Peña put his home, but Ordoñez saw his shot saved to give Adhonys María the chance to send the Dominican Republic through to the final, and that was exactly what he did.
       
      The other semifinal was at the same stadium as part of a double-header, and the US took on Honduras. And the Stars and Stripes did not delay as Paxton Aaronson poked home a freekick to put them ahead just two minutes in. Alejandro Alvarado Jr. then doubled the lead when his shot squirmed past the goalkeeper, and a large crowd were even more disappointed when Quinn Sullivan put in an open goal. A massacre was avoided as there were no goals in the semifinal, but things did get worse for the hosts when Jefryn Macías earned a late red card for a horror tackle on Nikolas Tsakiris.
       
      The final took place at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, although both teams knew they would be in the Olympic Games no matter what. It was the US who drew first blood, with Tyler Wolff heading home a cross. Aaronson, certainly the star of the tournament doubled the lead with a smart short-range finish, before Noah Allen's deflected effort pretty much wrapped up the game before half time. There was still time for more though: Jack Mc Glynn fired in at long range with a low effort, before the Dominicans failed to mark Aaronson from a free-kick as the Philadelphia Union player got his seventh goal of the tournament. The final goal would be scored by Tsakiris as the Dominican Republic failed to clear their lines, to wrap up a hugely impressive 6-0 victory and take home the trophy.
       
      In men's football, the US have only ever won two medals, with the bizarre tournament at St. Louis 1904 containing one Canadian team and two American teams: Christian Brothers College won silver and St. Rose Parish won silver. But in the modern era they have won nothing. Since men's football became an underage competition in Barcelona 1992, the best they have done is a fourth placed finish in Sydney 2000. But they have missed the last three tournaments: a last minute goal conceded to El Salvador in Nashville cost them in 2012, a loss to Colombia scuppered their chances in 2016, and in 2020 it was Honduras that beat them. For a country that is becoming more and more of a 'soccer' nation, this triple failure was unacceptable for a country that looks to fight to be the best in the continent. But it seems they benefited from the change in format with the Under-20 Championship doubling as a qualifier (rather than a separate Under-23 championship). Throughout they were dominant, with a mature performance against a partisan crowd in the semifinal, fully justifying their top-seeded position and they deserve their place in Paris.
       
      The Dominican Republic's story is remarkable. It is the first time a Dominican football team of either gender has qualified for the Olympics, and 2020 was the first time they had even qualified for the qualification event, coming last and losing every game in their group. They were ranked so low that they had to enter a qualifying round, where they were 2-0 down to Saint Lucia and heading out with two minutes to go, before two late goals got them the goal they needed. Beating an impressive El Salvador side who topped their group 5-4 was one thing, before they showed perseverance against Jamaica and resilience to come back from 2-0 down against Guatemala. The 6-0 loss in the final aside, they may have gotten some luck but they also deserve their place in the final.
       
      North American men's football qualification for the Olympics is thus decided: the champions, the US and the runners-up Honduras will go to Paris. They will also enter the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia, where they will be joined by losing semi-finalists Honduras and Guatemala. The other country in the Olympics is hosts France, with all other qualifying events listed currently as "to be determined". However, for football fans, the women's North American event, the CONCACAF W Championship, starts soon.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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      North American women's footballers enter Olympic qualifying event

      Mkbw50

      With the US and the Dominican Republic qualifying for the men's football event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, it is now the turn of North America's women's footballers to do the same. While the men's football is an underage event and had the stars of tomorrow, established names at the very top of world football are entering the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship.
       
      Eight teams enter the event. The top two teams; the US and Canada automatically qualified, while the other CONCACAF nations that entered (nine nations declined to do so) were in qualifying: with six groups of five teams, only the winner would progress. Mexico came through a group containing Puerto Rico, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, and Anguilla; Costa Rica overcame Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guatemala, Curaçao, and the US Virgin Islands; Jamaica got past the Dominican Republic, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Grenada; Panama won a group also containing El Salvador, Belize, Barbados, and Aruba; Haiti got past Cuba, Honduras, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the British Virgin Islands; and Trinidad and Tobago won a group featuring Guyana, Nicaragua, Dominica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The qualifying process was littered with huge scorelines, but the final eight are now set.
       
      The event will take place in Mexico, with Guadalupe's Estadio BBVA, home of five-time North American men's champions CF Monterrey, as well as San Nicolás de los Garza's Estadio Universitario, home of seven-time men's Mexican champions Tigres UNAL providing impressive venues: both nearby in the Monterrey metropolitan area. Group A consists of the US, Mexico, Jamaica and Haiti; Group B contains Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago.
       
      In the past, this was the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)'s sole women's football competition: the winners could call themselves queens of North America; in effect making it the equivalent of the Gold Cup for men. Indeed, it carried the name "CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup" from 2000 to 2006. However, now CONCACAF have introduce a separate competition called the "CONCACAF W Gold Cup", meaning this event, renamed the "CONCACAF W Championship", is secondary and is more notable as a way in to other competitions: it qualifies places not just for the Olympics, but also the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as well as the first edition of the W Gold Cup in 2024.
       
      In terms of the competition itself, the top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals, and there will be a final, as well as a third-placed play-off. The winner automatically qualifies for the W Gold Cup in 2024, as well as the Olympics. The second Olympic spot will be decided in an "Olympic play-in" between the losing finalist and the winner of the third-placed play-off, which will take place in September 2023. This seems to be to avoid a situation where if the world champion Americans and Olympic champion Canadians faced each other in a semifinal then one of them would have to be eliminated, meaning CONCACAF will have weaker representation. In terms of the FIFA World Cup, all four semifinalists will qualify, while the third-placed team in each group qualifies for the intercontinental play-offs, in which ten teams from six confederations will fight for the final three spots at the World Cup.
       
      There is plenty of talent on display, but the short version of the tournament is: one team will secure an Olympic place, two teams will have to wait for a play-off next year, and the remaining five will see their Olympic dream die.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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      One more hurdle to go as North American men's footballers reach do-or-die qualifier

      Mkbw50

      The all-important semi-finals for the 2022 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship are set, determining who will qualify for men's football at Paris 2024. With this the only North American qualifier in men's football, and two countries qualifying, the equation is simple: the winners will play in the Olympics, and the losers won't. All four winners of the quarter-finals have qualified for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia.
       
      The United States took on Costa Rica in the first game of a double-header at the Estadio Morazán in San Pedro Sula. Early in the first half, Paxton Aaronsen finished off a break to give the Americans the lead, and the same player smashed home a cross early in the second half to get the second and final goal of the game. The Americans safely through to the semifinals. In the later game, Panama took on Honduras. A brilliant effort from outside the box from Ricardo Gorday gave the visitors the lead, but Honduras turned around the game with a tale of two penalties. The first one was saved on the stroke of half time before Marco Aceituno tucked home the rebound to make it 1-1. And when Aceituno was bought down by Omar Alba in a challenge that can only be described as 'tired', Aceituno stepped up and smashed Honduras into the semi-final against the US.
       
      On the second day it was another double-header, this time at the Estadio Olímpico in the same city. The Dominican Republic faced Jamaica and it was a game decided by an early goal, with a great bit of skill from Ángel Montes De Oca well worth a win for the Dominicans. In the final game, Guatemala took on Mexico. And it was Guatemala that drew first blood, with a cross headed in by Arquimedes Ordoñez. But when a freekick was forced in by Esteban Lozano who knew little about it it seemed the game was destined for extra-time, until El Tri got a late late penalty. But an 88th minute save did send the game to extra time. And that proved indecisive too, so there would be a penalty shoot-out. Jesús Hernández stepped up first for Mexico, but saw his penalty saved, while Mathius Gaitán scored to give Guatemala the lead. Things turned desperate for Mexico when Isaías Violante saw his shot saved too, and Daniel Cardoza scored to double the Guatemalans' lead. Antonio Leone then hit the woodwork for Mexico, meaning Carlos Santos had the chance to win it for Guatemala, but his effort was saved. Jesús Alcantar still had to score, and did just that to keep it alive, but now Jefry Bantes could score to win it for Guatemala... but it was saved again! A miracle comeback may have been on the cards for Mexico, but Bryan González still had to score, and the keeper guessed correctly and Guatemala were through to face the Dominican Republic.
       
      So the semifinals will take place on 1 July at Estadio Morazán in San Pedro Sula: the US vs Honduras at 1700 local time (UTC -6) and the Dominican Republic vs Guatemala three hours later. Then, the final will take place on 3 July at 1700 local time at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano. Check here for broadcasting information.
       
      The US vs Honduras is an intriguing encounter, arguably between the two strongest teams in the tournament. The US were number one seed and started their group with a 10-0 win over St. Kitts and Nevis, before a 2-2 draw against Canada representing a minor hiccup and then an impressive 3-0 win over a very respectable Cuba side to top the group. In the Round of 16, a 5-0 win over Nicaragua was then followed by a very reasonable 2-0 win over a Costa Rica side who had impressed up to that point. Honduras are the number four seed but have home advantage and their crowds have grown as they advanced in the tournament. The only team to have a 100% record in the group, they did so without conceding, winning 3-0 over Antigua and Barbuda, 5-0 over Jamaica and 1-0 over Costa Rica. A 4-1 win over Curaçao was followed by a battling 2-1 win over Panama, but the US is a new level for them and it will be an exciting match.
       
      On the other side, the Dominican Republic had to pre-qualify for the competition as they were not ranked in the top 16 (the highest team to miss out), with a 6-0 win over Anguilla, 2-0 wins over Saint Martin and Belize and then a 2-2 draw with Saint Lucia enough to qualify with all games on home soil. They were 2-0 down with two minutes to go in that final game and would not have qualified for the tournament if they hadn't found two late goals: now they are one game away from the Olympics. Having pre-qualified they got a bye to the Round of 16 where they shocked El Salvador 5-4 and then despatched Jamaica 1-0, and are one game away from a fairytale. But Guatemala, who were the eleventh seed have battled through: despite starting off with a 5-1 loss to El Salvador, they picked themselves up and beat Panama, the number one seed in their group 3-1, and then managed to snatch a 2-1 win over Aruba. They then battled to a 1-1 draw against Canada and won on penalties, and did the same against Mexico, having a bit of luck seeing as El Tri missed an 88th minute penalty. Both teams have what it takes to win this match, but only one can come out on top.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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      Quarter-finals take shape as North American men's footballers two games away from Olympics

      Mkbw50

      The CONCACAF Under-20 Championship is in full swing now and the Round of 16 is over. With the two finalists qualifying for the Olympics, this is the sole Paris 2024 qualifying competition in men's football for North Americans.
       
      Costa Rica faced Trinidad and Tobago at Estadio Yankel Rosenthal. A handball by Jahiem Joseph in the box gave Costa Rica the chance to make the perfect start and Josimar Alcócer stepped up to do exactly that. Costa Rica were the dominant side and added to their lead in the second half with a tap-in from Shawn Johnson. A rebound from Dorian Rodríguez made it three, before the same player latched onto a through ball for 4-0. Trinidad and Tobago were heading out but had time for one positive moment, with Molik Khan putting in the consolation. Still, an impressive performance by Costa Rica and they are through to the quarter-finals.
       
      Cuba met Panama at the Estadio Nacional. Both teams had chances in the first half but it remained a somewhat tetchy affair. And the only goal fit the contest: a scrappy goal forced in by Carlos Rivera to give Panama the win. It was a disappointment for Cuba who had been impressive in the tournament up to this point but will play no further part.
       
      Later at the Yankel Rosenthal, hosts Honduras took on Curaçao. And it didn't take long for the home side to take the lead, with Marco Aceituno latching onto a sloppy backpass. But Curaçao fought back, with Rayvian Job latching onto a "route one" ball over the top and equalising in prolific fashion. That was as good as it got for the qualifiers though, with Honduras' Geremy Rodas heading home a corner in first-half injury time and Odin Ramos heading home a cross after the break. There was time for one more Honduras goal when Nigel Marengo fouled Jefryn Macías in the box and Miguel Carrasco fired it into the top corner for a 4-1 victory. Honduras have looked impressive all tournament and will be relishing a quarterfinal against Panama.
       
      The final game of the day took place at the Estadio Nacional with the US taking on Nicaragua. The Stars and Stripes were dominant the whole game but Nicaragua's dominance was providing a large amount of frustration. It took until first half injury time for Quinn Sullivan to head them in front, but then it became much simpler. Kurt Thomas dragged Sullivan down in the box and Diego Luna scored the penalty before Sullivan tucked in a low cross for his second and the USA's third. A cross was deflected by Dylan Pineda into his own goal before Jalen Neal tucked in a rebound to give the US a 5-0 win. The Americans have looked brilliant this tournament but Costa Rica will be a tough challenge in the quarters.
       
      On the second day of competition Guatemala faced Canada in the first game at the Estadio Nacional. But nothing could separate the two sides after ninety minutes, with both teams missing a penalty in the first half but having precious little in terms of other chances. In extra-time, Canada did draw first blood, with Jeshua Urizar handling it in the box and Kamron Habibullah firing it into the bottom corner. In the 119th minute, Figo Montaro headed home, and although it was initially disallowed, VAR showed that it was onside and the game headed to penalties. With the first set of penalties converted by Gabriel Pellegrino and Carlos Santos, Kwasi Poku skied his penalty to give Guatemala the initiative, and Urizar did just that. Keesean Ferdinand levelled for Canada but Johnathan Franco put Guatemala back in front. Justin Smith's panenka then hit the bar to give Jefrey Bantes the chance to put Guatemala through, but he rolled it wide. Habibullah had to score to keep Canada in it, and did just that, so it was down to Omar Villagrán to avoid a sudden death. And he smashed it in to send Guatemala through to the quarterfinals.
       
      At the Estadio Olímpico, Haiti took on Jamaica in a bizarre game. Jahmari Clarke gave Jamaica the lead early on taking advantage of some eccentric goalkeeping and things got worse for Haiti when Fernando Ciceron's bizarre high-footed challenge on Chad James earned him a red card. A header from Steevenson Jeudy gave Haiti an equaliser and a lifeline, but when Duckens Pierre fouled Tyler Roberts that was enough for his second yellow card and Haiti were down to nine men. It was only a matter of time before Jamaica got the winner at that point and more unconvincing goalkeeping was to blame with Tarick Ximines poking home an open goal from a corner to secure a 2-1 win for the young Reggae Boyz.
       
      A fascinating encounter between El Salvador and the Dominican Republic took place at the Estadio Nacional. The qualifiers took an early lead when Israel Boatwrighit's cross went over the goalkeeper and found its way in, but El Salvador soon equalised when Mayer Gil converted a cross. However, Anyelo Gomez soon scored a rebound to put the Dominicans ahead again. El Salvador were struggling to get back into the game but when Keffler Martes brought down Jonathan Esquivel in the box Gil converted the VAR-awarded penalty to equalise, before Ronald Arévalo tapped home just before half-time to give El Salvador the lead for the first time. But just after half time, Ángel Montes De Oca managed to squeeze home a goal and it was 3-3. Boatwrighit went from hero to zero by handling a cross in the box and Esquivel converted the penalty to put El Salvador back in front, but Montes De Oca soon came forward and fired in an equaliser. And the nerves began to show when El Salvador's Alexander Romero brought down the rushing Edison Azcona in the box and Azcona got up and fired in the winner, and despite their best efforts and a disallowed goal, El Salvador had no response. The remarkable result: El Salvador 4-5 Dominican Republic, and the winners play Jamaica in the quarterfinal.
       
      In the final game at the Olímpico Mexico took on Puerto Rico in a one-sided affair. A lovely solo run from Fidel Ambriz gave El Tri a lead they would never relinquish, and Christian Torres fired off the post for two. Esteban Lozano made it three after half-time with a header, before another header from Salvador Mariscal made it four. The ball then broke kindly for Isaías Violante in the box and he took full advantage, before Jesús Hernández rounded out a 6-0 win with another headed effort. They play Guatemala in the quarters.
       
      The quarterfinals will take place on Tuesday at Estadio Morazán with the US against Costa Rica and Panama playing Honduras, and on Wednesday at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano with the Dominican Republic taking on Jamaica and Guatemala facing Mexico. The winners will qualify for next years FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia, and will be one game away from the Olympics, with the losers having no recourse for the Paris Games.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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      Taylor-Brown inspires GB to Olympic spot as France win mixed relay

      Mkbw50

      Image: World Triathlon
       
      A stunning performance from Georgia Taylor-Brown in the 2022 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships has yielded Great Britain the first non-host quota of the Paris 2024 Olympic cycle.
       
      The winner of the event were to win two quota spots for each gender, automatically entering the winner into the Mixed Relay event in Paris. France, the hosts of the Games, already had these quotas, so if they were to win the race the places would instead go to the runner-up. With at most three athletes per gender qualifying for the individual events per NOC, all NOCs with at least two per gender will automatically enter the mixed relay. There are also eleven specific mixed relay spots, that will automatically qualify two men and two women for the Olympics, and the second of these (after the host spot) was up for grabs in Montreal, Canada on Sunday.
       
      With Belgium non-starters, sixteen teams entered the race. In the first leg, the whole field was together after the cycling portion but New Zealand's Hayden Wilde and Great Britain's Alex Yee left the field behind them during the run, just like the individual race, and were ahead going into the second leg. During the swim, Brazil, France and Australia caught up to make it a five-woman race, putting them twenty-five seconds ahead of the US in sixth. But the charge from the chasing pack was enough to slowly claw away at the leading five, and going into the final race there was a big pack. But they slowly broke away with France's Emma Lombardi being subject of a surprise challenge from Denmark's Alberte Kjaer Pedersen. But France were happy to cooperate, as they had Vincent Luis on the penultimate leg and as Denmark fell away Luis pulled twenty seconds clear at the end of his swim. With New Zealand's Tayler Reid and the American Kevin McDowell cooperating while fighting for second, Luis was still nineteen seconds clear after the cycle despite riding solo. There was a second pack of chasers: GB, Canada, Switzerland, and Denmark, but they were a further sixteen seconds back and couldn't make any inroads despite GB's newcomer Samuel Dickinson attempting a charge. Furthermore, Dickinson had a missed box ten-second penalty.
       
      Going into the final leg France were miles in front and all Cassandre Beaugrand had to do was take it home, and in fact all she did was extend her lead. But while there was no doubt who the winner would be, it was looking a tight battle for second. Summer Rappaport of the US was now eight seconds ahead of the Kiwis' Nicole Van Der Kaay, with Taylor-Brown nearly half a minute off that silver place. But a brilliant cycle let her catch them two up somehow, but that wasn't enough: she would have to find more than seconds to contend with the penalty. Van Der Kaay tried to stay with her but ran out of steam and Taylor-Brown took a clear lead. But Rappaport, who had stayed back, was a problem. It was unclear whether Taylor-Brown was clearly ahead: she had to slow down and speed up again while serving the penalty, so the penalty is in actuality more than ten seconds. But as Beaugrand crossed the line for gold, Taylor-Brown emerged just ahead of Rappaport and powered over the line for silver while the Americans got a bronze. It means that two British men and two British women will compete at the Olympics in Paris in the triathlon, which makes a mixed relay team.
       
      The British team were delighted with the performance despite being pre-race favourites. Alex Yee said he was "absolutely over the moon", while Sophie Coldwell says she was "really proud of everyone". Samuel Dickinson whose penalty nearly cost the team said that he would "buy [Taylor-Brown] some sunglasses or something" to make up for it, while Taylor-Brown joked:

       
      But Olympic qualification aside today was France's day, and they are worthy world champions. Pierre Le Corre, Emma Lombardi, Vincent Luis and Cassandre Beaugrand are a very good team and they will be relishing an Olympics in front of their home fans. The next chance for teams to qualify will be at the 2023 World event in Hamburg, Germany. The winner of that event (or more precisely, the highest-ranked finisher except for France and Great Britain) will qualify two men and two women, similar to this event.
       
      Top five times:
      1. France 1:27.14
      2. Great Britain 1:27.34
      3. United States 1:27.44
      4. New Zealand 1:27.53
      5. Canada 1:29.06
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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      Great Britain amongst sixteen countries looking to snag first triathlon quotas

      Mkbw50

      Image: World Triathlon
       
      The first direct non-host quotas of the Paris 2024 qualification cycle are set to be allocated later today (Sunday 26 June 2022) in Montreal, Canada as the 2022 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships take place. The triathlon has three events: a men's event, a women's event, and a mixed relay event. All NOCs that enter at least two men and at least two women will automatically be entered into the mixed relay. However, nine NOCs will qualify directly for the mixed relay, as qualifying through these events will earn enough quotas two men and two women.
       
      The first place went automatically to hosts France, but the next will be earned at today's championships. There are seventeen countries entering, with the winner qualifying two men and two women. If France win, then the places will be allocated to the runner-up instead. In mixed relay triathlon, all teams start with a male athlete, and alternate, finishing with a female athlete (an order known as MFMF).
       
      Olympic champions Great Britain will be eyeing a win after finishing second in the last event in Leeds. The two members of their Tokyo 2020 team present, Alex Yee and Georgia Taylor-Brown both won the individual elite events, while Sophie Coldwell came 7th. Samuel Dickinson is on ranking clearly the weakest member of the team, finishing 56th in the event (out of 57 finishers). However, it is still a very strong team. Germany, who won in Leeds, do not have a team this time.
       
      They won't be troubling the Olympic quota places having already qualified as hosts but Olympic bronze medallists France who achieved the same medal in Leeds are also a strong team. Pierre Le Corre who came 7th in the individual event will lead off, followed by U23 world champion Emma Lombardi, Vincent Luis (who came 6th in the individual event) and individual silver medallist Cassandre Beaugrand. The Olympic silver medallist Americans will hope to improve from a pretty disastrous ninth in Leeds with a strong women's side. Seth Rider could only manage 40th in the individual event with Kevin Mcdowell not entering, but Taylor Spivey and Summer Rappaport managed sixth and fifth respectively in the women's event.
       
       
       
      The course consists of a 300m swim, followed by two laps of a 3.3km cycle, and then two laps of a 950m run. This will be done by each athlete, for a total of 1.2km swimming, 26.4km cycling, and 7.8km running for each team.
       
      The full list of countries, their athletes and their 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) ranking is as follows:
      Australia: Jacob Birtwhistle (32), Jaz Hedgeland (35), Brandon Copeland (17), Natalie Van Coevorden (13)
      Belgium: Jelle Geens (5), Valerie Barthelemy (45), Marten Van Riel (11), Hanne De Vet (86)
      Brazil: Miguel Hidalgo (13), Djenyfer Arnold (23), Manoel Messias (36), Vittoria Lopes (60)
      Canada: Tyler Mislawchuk (29), Emy Legault (29), Charles Paquet (24), Dominika Jamnicky (70)
      Denmark: Emil Holm (37), Alberte Kjær Pedersen (15), Oscar Gladney Rundqvist (unranked), Anne Holm (96)
      France: Pierre Le Corre (3), Emma Lombardi (26), Vincent Luis (6), Cassandre Beaugrand (3)
      Great Britain: Alex Yee (9), Sophie Coldwell (6), Samuel Dickinson (63), Georgia Taylor-Brown (1)
      Italy: Nicolò Strada (unranked), Bianca Seregni (unranked), Gianluca Pozzatti (49), Carlotta Missaglia (80)
      Japan: Takumi Hojo (16), Yuka Sato (68), Kenji Nemer (14), Hikaru Fukuoka (unranked)
      Mexico: Irving Perez (101), Lizeth Rueda Santos (67), Rodrigo Gonzalez (89), Anahi Alvarez Corral (88)
      Netherlands: Richard Murray (22), Rachel Klamer (17), Mitch Kolkman (92), Barbara De Koning (62)
      New Zealand: Hayden Wilde (2), Ainsley Thorpe (40), Tayler Reid (48), Nicole Van Der Kaay (24)
      Norway: Vetle Bergsvik Thorn (27), Lotte Miller (40), Sebastian Wernersen (unranked), Solveig Løvseth (54)
      Portugal: Ricardo Batista (26), Melanie Santos (34), Joao Silva (20), Maria Tomé (56)
      Spain: Antonio Serrat Seoane (4), Anna Godoy Contreras (92), Roberto Sanchez Mantecon (19), Sara Perez Sala (64)
      Switzerland: Sylvain Fridelance (18), Cathia Schär (50), Sasha Caterina (102), Nora Gmür (81)
      United States: Seth Rider (52), Taylor Spivey (4), Kevin Mcdowell (45), Summer Rappaport (7)
       
      Late substitutions, withdrawals or entries can't be ruled out. The action gets underway at about 16:45 local time (UTC -4). Check here for broadcasting rights.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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      Four countries' Olympic dream over as North American Men's Football qualifier enters knockout phase

      Mkbw50

      The North American Men's Football Qualifier for Paris 2024, the 2022 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Honduras has seen the conclusion of the group stage. With the two finalists in this tournament reaching the Olympics, and this being the only way in for North American countries, the twenty countries entering had their Olympic dream riding on this tournament. The sixteen teams who qualified automatically based on ranking entered the group stage, while the four who played qualifying got a bye to the Round of 16. The top three teams in each group qualified for the next round.
       
      In Group E, held in Tegucigalpa's Estadio Nacional, home of three top-flight Honduran football clubs, the US, Cuba, Canada, and Saint Kitts and Nevis were in the group. The US were heavy favourites in their first match against Saint Kitts and Nevis and got a good start when Rocco Browne bundled down Alejandro Alvarado Jr. in the box, with Cade Cowell converting the penalty. A handball by Dejahne Morris in the penalty area was missed by the referee but spotted by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and another penalty was given to the US, which was scored by Caden Clark emphatically. Up to this point, SKN had battled bravely and only conceded penalties, but before half-time, the floodgates opened. Firstly, a botched clearance gave Tyler Wolff an open goal, before Rokas Pukstas headed home a corner in injury time. Then, Mauricio Cuevas scored a lovely "Arjen Robben"-style goal cutting in to the box, and before the whistle went there was time for another penalty: Clark being inexplicably fouled by a lazy and frustrated lunge from Chad Liburd. Nikolas Tsakiris scored the penalty before the half-time whistle brought temporary respite to the Caribbean side. But things were no better in the second half: firstly Jermaine Chiuta headed a corner into his own goal, before Paxten Aaronson ended a counter-attack with a smart finish. The same thing happened a few minutes later, and substitute Aaronson had a brace despite only having been on for less than ten minutes. Tskairis put the gloss on the scoreline after he tapped in a low cross, and if you lost count, most in the stadium did too: it finished USA 10-0 Saint Kitts and Nevis.
       
      In the other game on that day, Cuba played against Canada. The sole goal came when Canada were caught sleeping with the ball in defence, and a poor backpass was pounced upon by Kevin Martín. Cuba had to play the last 20 minutes with ten men, as keeper Ismel Morgado came out and brought down Lowell Wright, earning himself a second yellow card after a similar incident in the first half, but the Cubans held on to win 1-0. In the second set of games, Saint Kitts and Nevis would have to recover as they played Cuba. But Cuba were in no mood to do anything other than win, as Martín headed home an early opener from a cross. In the second half, another header from Eduardo Hernández doubled the lead, before Mario Penalver got a header of his own from a cross. Ajani Mills was unable to clear a cross properly and put it into his own net, before a brilliant cross was headed home at the back post for Romario Torrez. There was still time for one more goal, and it was a cracker from outside the box from Rey Rodríguez to make it Saint Kitts and Nevis 0-6 Cuba.
       
      In the other game on the day, Canada faced the USA. Lowell Wright gave Canada a lead as he poked home a shot in a crowded box. The US fought back in the second half though, with Jack Mc Glynn firing a shot into the top corner from outside the box. But Canada regained the lead when Michael Halliday headed a cross into his own net. The US would still have some fight in them however, with Cowell cutting inside to earn a 2-2 draw. On the final day Saint Kitts and Nevis needed a win against Canada while the Canadians just needed a draw to progress. After a dull first half, Matthew Catavolo rebounded a saved shot in to give Canada a lead they wouldn't relinquish, before doubling his own tally for the day with a brilliant long range effort. A corner was not cleared properly and Wright smashed it into the bottom corner for three, before a brilliant backheel from Mael Henry confirmed that Canada would go through. Saint Kitts and Nevis looked like fish out of water in this competition, losing the three games by an aggregate score of 20-0. In the final game, the US faced Cuba, knowing both teams were through. Cuba just needed a draw to finish top, but the US were motivated to attack, and within 80 seconds they had taken the lead, with Quinn Sullivan smashing in a cross. It was the Sullivan show, with the Philadelphia Union midfielder smashing in the second into the top corner before completing a first-half hat-trick on the break. It finished 3-0, and the US as group winners will face qualifiers Nicaragua in the next round, while second-placed Cuba would face the third-placed team in Group G, and third-placed Canada would face the runners-up from that group. Saint Kitts and Nevis were out.
       
      In Group F, hosted at Estádio Morazán in San Pedro Sula, the home of twelve-time Honduran champions Real España, Mexico, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname were drawn together. A great game kicked off the group as Haiti faced Trinidad and Tobago, and the Trinidadians drew first blood as Nathaniel James fired into the roof of the net. Watz Leazard's deflected shot equalised for Haiti, but a wonderful freekick from Kaihim Thomas restored the lead. At half-time they would go in level however due to a goalkeeping blunder, as Jahiem Wickham pushed down Shad San Millan in the box and Steevenson Jeudy stepped up for the penalty. In the second half, Jeudy headed home a corner to give Haiti the lead for the first time, before they were pegged back after Real Gill produced a lovely run and finish, before James fired in his second of the day to complete a turnaround. But Haiti weren't done just yet, and a last-minute Bryan Destin goal from a cutback broke Trinidadian hearts and secured a 4-4 draw.
       
      A different type of eight-goal thriller happened as Mexico met Suriname. Esteban Lozano tapped home a rebounded shot early on to give El Tri a lead they would only ever build upon. Salvador Mariscal nutmegged the goalie for 2-0, before a lovely one-two a couple of minutes later set up his second and Mexico's third. Fidel Ambriz headed home a free-kick before Bryan González scored on an injury-time break to make it 5-0 at half time. Despite more dogged resistance from Suriname in the second half, eventually Mariscal headed home for his hat-trick. Antonio Leone smashed home after a goalmouth scramble following a corner in additional time, before Suriname's problems worsened when Ammiel Reginoud kicked Christian Torres in the face going for a high ball and got sent off after a VAR review. Finally, Jesús Hernández scored a free-kick to make it 8-0 in the thirteen minute of additional time. Haiti were the next opponents for Suriname, and Suriname improved hugely. In the first half they not only kept them out but looked on top. But they reverted to type in the second period, when they went in behind as Jeudy headed in his third goal of the tournament. Suriname's chances of getting back into the game were scuppered when Gabriel De Mees denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity with a handball and was sent off, before Jeudy tucked in a low cross to double his and Haiti's tally. There was time for one more goal, as Adelson Belizaire headed home a free-kick for a 3-0 win.
       
      In the other game, Trinidad and Tobago faced Mexico, who were just as ruthless this time around. Leone put in the first goal as Trinidad were unable to deal with a free-kick into the box, before González scored the second from a low cross in injury time. Jaheim Joseph brought down Lozano in the second half early on and Lozano stepped up to score number three. Jonathan Pérez converted a cross in off the post for number four, before a low shot from Lozano rounded off the night. Trinidad and Tobago had to dust themselves off against a Suriname side needing a result, and did just that. Due to heavy rainfall, both the final games in the group were moved to the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, home of the Honduras national team. After a drab first half, a deflected effort from James found its way in to give Trinidad and Tobago the lead, before Molif Khan volleyed home a free-kick and James got his second late on. In the other game, Mexico just needed a point against Haiti to come top and got just that in a dull 0-0 draw. This meant group winners Mexico would face qualifiers Puerto Rico in the next round, Haiti who came second on goal difference would face the third-placed team in Group H, Trinidad and Tobago would face the runners-up from that group and Suriname were knocked out.
       
      In Group G, with games also held in Estadio Nacional, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Aruba met. A brilliant long-range effort from Alexander Romero gave El Salvador the lead in the first game against Guatemala. An own goal from Arian Recinos doubled the lead, before a fantastic run from Arquimides Ordoñez set up a goal to give Guatemala hope. It was a folorn hope however, as Mayer Gil soon restored the two goal cushion, and a nice shot from Harold Osorio from outside the box was added to by Daniel Cruz from a corner to give the Salvadorians a 5-1 win. In the other game, Panama faced Aruba and an early cross tapped in by Javier Betegón set the tone as Panama took the lead. Betegón doubled this after latching onto a through ball and poking it home for two. Kevin Garrido then tapped home a low cross for three and things did not change in the second half, with a Leonel Tejada header and a shot smashed in from the goalline by Carlos Rivera giving Panama a 5-0 win. Aruba would have to dust themselves down for the next game, and it seemed like they did just that early on as Terick Monsanto put them in front. But that was as good as it got for them as a foul from Anthony Maduro on Gil gave El Salvador an injury-time penalty that was converted by Jonathan Esquivel. In the second half El Salvador completed a brutal turnaround, with a header from Eduardo Rivas, a lovely through ball giving an easy finish from Javier Mariona, and Mariona then converting a cross for a 4-1 victory. Guatemala responded to opening-day defeat in much better fashion. Luck gave Allan Juárez an opener as the Panama keeper mishandled his shot, but a chip off the bar from Tejada restored parity. Guatemala would pull away though, with an injury-time nutmeg of the keeper from Ordoñez and a free-kick from Carlos Santos giving them a 3-1 win. On the final day, Aruba needed a result against Guatemala, and looked like they might be getting it when an Evander Nedd header put them in front. However, poor defensive positioning allowed Ordoñez to score an equaliser, while Juárez scored a winner in the second half. El Salvador just needed a point to finish first and they accomplished this with a 0-0 draw with Panama that raised few eyebrows. El Salvador will face qualifiers the Dominican Republic in the next round, while Panama in second face Cuba, and Guatemala will take on Canada.
       
      Group H was in the Estadio Morazán, and Honduras, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Antigua and Barbuda met. A Dorian Rodríguez header gave Costa Rica the lead against Jamaica, but very late on Brandon Calderón pulled down Jahmari Clarke in the box and the same player stepped up for the penalty to give Jamaica a 1-1 draw. Hosts Honduras started life with a game against Antigua and Barbuda. Aaron Zuñiga headed home a corner to give them a lead, and despite a missed penalty in heavy rain they had no more problems as Jefryn Macías took advantage of a goalkeeping mishap partially caused by the weather and then Dajun Barthley brought down Macías to cause a VAR-awarded penalty, that was converted by Marco Aceituno. The Antiguans would have to dust themselves down for the next game against Costa Rica and stayed level at half-time, before Calderón headed home a goal that was awarded after a lengthy VAR review. Costa Rica would have no problems and a header from Enyel Escoe as well as a low Rodríguez strike late-on added gloss to the scoreline. The next game for the hosts was against Jamaica, and an early Aceituno header gave them the lead, before the same player managed to squeeze in a second. Late on in the half, Isaac Castillo was through on goal before Lamonth Rochester brought him down earning a red card. But Castillo wouldn't have to wait long for his goal, completing a break early in the second half, before Macías fired home the goal to put them four to the good. Macías got his second with a low shot and Honduras won 5-0. Like the games in Group F, the final set of matches were relocated due to heavy rainfall to Estádio Yankel Rosenthal, home of nine-time champions Marathón. Antigua and Barbuda needed a win while Jamaica just needed a point in the final game. A nice bit of pace from Zion Scarlett gave him the chance to put Jamaica in front, which he took just before half-time, before Barthley brought down Tyler Roberts in the box, earning Barthley a red card and Jamaica a penalty, which Clarke converted to give them a 2-0 win. Finally, Honduras beat Costa Rica 1-0 as Shawn Roberts handled it in the box and Jeyson Contreras scored the penalty. Honduras will take on qualifiers Curaçao, Costa Rica will face Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica take on Haiti.
       
      The eight games will be played in the next couple of days, with games involving teams from Groups E and G in Tegucigalpa, and those with teams from Groups F and H in San Pedro Sula: Costa Rica vs Trinidad and Tobago and Honduras vs Curaçao in the Morazán, and Haiti vs Jamaica and Mexico vs Puerto Rico in the Olímpico. For Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Aruba, and Antigua and Barbuda the tournament is over, but all the teams here know that three wins will take them to the Olympics.
       
      The group stage did seem a bit pointless though, with all four bottom seeds losing every game, and some pretty dramatic scorelines including a victory of 5-0 or greater in every group. Those who got a bye to the Round of 16 are even lower ranked than those bottom seeds, and twenty sides may seem too many given the drastic differences in quality between the sides.
       
      Patrick Green
      Writer, Totallympics News
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