Numerous Barclays Premier League players went far and wide for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign this weekend. Here is a round-up of who played where in the CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and Oceania qualifying sections.
CONMEBOL
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero scored once and Lionel Messi twice as Argentina convincingly beat neighbours Uruguay 3-0 in Mendoza. City’s Pablo Zabaleta was part of the Argentina defence who thwarted Liverpool forward Luis Suarez. Sebastian Coates, the Liverpool defender, was an unused substitute for Uruguay.
West Bromwich Albion’s Gonzalo Jara and Wigan Athletic’s Jean Beausejour were part of the Chile side who went down 3-1 to Ecuador in the altitude of Quito. Beausejour was substituted on 78 minutes as Chile went for an equaliser.
At the halfway stage Argentina lead the group on 17 points, followed by Colombia and Ecuador a point. Uruguay occupy the last remaining guaranteed spot for qualification on 12 points. The fifth-placed team plays an Asian nation for a final spot.
Results and fixtures
Bolivia 1-1 Peru; Colombia 2-0 Paraguay; Ecuador 3-1 Chile; Argentina 3-0 Uruguay
October 16: Bolivia v Uruguay; Paraguay v Peru; Venezuela v Ecuador; Chile v Argentina
CONCACAF
Group A
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, Stoke City’s Geoff Cameron and Tottenham Hotspur forward Clint Dempsey were part of a United States that required a last-minute strike from Eddie Johnson, his second of the match, to beat Antigua and Barbua 2-1. Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan and Stoke’s Maurice Edu were unused substitutes.
Reading’s Adrian Mariappa was an unused substitute as Jamaica went down 2-1 to Guatemala.
The US are joint leaders with Guatemala on 10 points with Jamaica on seven points.
Group B
Everton’s Bryan Oviedo featured for the whole of Costa Rica’s 1-0 win in El Salvador but Fulham forward Bryan Ruiz was taken off just before half-time with a problem with his right adductor muscle and is a doubt for the match with Guyana on Tuesday.
Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez scored the fourth goal as Mexico maintained their 100% record after five matches with a 5-0 rout of Guyana in Houston.
Group C
Wigan Athletic left-back Manuel Figueroa was part of the Honduras team held to a goalless stalemate away to Panama.
Simeon Jackson played the 90 minutes of Canada’s 3-0 victory over Cuba in Toronto but the Norwich City striker was not on the scoresheet. Canada are level with Panama on 10 points with Honduras two points behind.
The top two from each group will enter round four, where they each play one another and the top three nations qualify for the FIFA 2014 World Cup and the fourth-placed team will face the winner of the Oceania group for another spot in Brazil.
Results and fixtures
Group A: Antigua and Barbuda 1-2 United States; Guatemala 2-1 Jamaica.
October 16: Jamaica v Antigua; US v Guatemala.
Group B: El Salvador 0-1 Costa Rica; Guyana 0-5 Mexico.
October 16: Costa Rica v Guyana; Mexico v El Salvador.
Group C: Canada 3-0 Cuba; Panama 0-0 Honduras.
October 16: Cuba v Panama; Honduras v Canada.
Oceania
New Zealand lead the Oceania group after a 2-0 victory away to Tahiti kept their 100% record intact. West Bromwich Albion’s Chris Wood, who is on loan to Millwall, played 69 minutes of the match.
Results and fixtures
Solomon Islands 2-6 New Caledonia; Tahiti 0-2 New Zealand
October 16: New Zealand v Tahiti; New Caledonia v Solomon Islands
