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Honduras, Jamaica clash for Group B crown
by Vijay Setlur
ELIZABETH, New Jersey - Players from Honduras and Jamaica didn't seem to mind each other on their Gold Cup charter flight from Miami to Newark, New Jersey. Some even chatted before takeoff.
It probably won't be that way come Monday when they face off for the Group B title.
Jamaica has won twice and already qualified for the quarterfinals. Honduras is riding the momentum of a 7-1 win over Grenada on Friday, but heading into Sunday night's games needed at least a draw to assure itself of advancing.
"It's a different game," Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez said. "We have to play differently. It's a different opponent."
The match will be the nightcap of a doubleheader to complete Group B play. Earlier, Grenada will be looking for its first Gold Cup victory when it faces Guatemala.
With the Reggae Boys having already qualified for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2005, their focus is seeding. While a draw would also suit Honduras in terms of advancing, it would assure Jamaica of the Group B title and a knockout round pairing against the Group C runner-up.
The group runner-up will have to face the second-place team from Group A, most likely Costa Rica.
It's a scenario both would prefer to avoid.
"With the win we understand that we can win the group," Fernandez said. "It (Jamaica) is a hard team. They've very fast. They have very good attacking players. The counterattack could be a problem.
"They might give us space, and for that we have to be careful, but we're still going to work hard and we're still aiming to win the group."
In Honduras, the Reggae Boys will be facing their toughest challenge to date. It comfortably beat fellow Caribbean side Grenada 4-0 and then wore down Guatemala 2-0. Honduras was held to an opening 0-0 draw against Guatemala - even with a man advantage for much of the second half - but overwhelmed Grenada with three goals by Carlo Costly and two more by Jerry Bengston.
The match will be a clash of regional champions, Central America vs. Caribbean, with Honduras considered better on the ball, but Jamaica faster and bigger.
Neither team trained Saturday evening after arriving from Miami, so both were to have just Sunday evening's session to prepare. It's not an ideal situation, but one both teams equally face.
The early game will be a consolation of sorts, with Guatemala still harboring quarterfinal hopes and Grenada just looking to avoid another lopsided loss.
Already thin with professionals, the Spice Boys have been hampered further by injuries. Leon Johnson (knee), David Cyrus (neck spasm), Ricky Charles (leg nerve) and Patrick Modeste (knee) all have been hurt. The team lost Kithson Bain before the Gold Cup began and
Craig Rocastle left the team with knee ligament damage suffered in the Jamaica game.
"Obviously, Guatemala have come off a two-nil defeat to Jamaica, so both sides will be playing for some pride and we'll go out there with that in mind," Grenada manager Michael Adams said. "We're going to have to look at our injury list because that has really put some damage to our preparations and see how people fare over the next couple of days."
Still, Guatemala may present the best chance for a win. It has only allowed only two goals, but hasn't scored any.
by Vijay Setlur
ELIZABETH, New Jersey - Players from Honduras and Jamaica didn't seem to mind each other on their Gold Cup charter flight from Miami to Newark, New Jersey. Some even chatted before takeoff.
It probably won't be that way come Monday when they face off for the Group B title.
Jamaica has won twice and already qualified for the quarterfinals. Honduras is riding the momentum of a 7-1 win over Grenada on Friday, but heading into Sunday night's games needed at least a draw to assure itself of advancing.
"It's a different game," Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez said. "We have to play differently. It's a different opponent."
The match will be the nightcap of a doubleheader to complete Group B play. Earlier, Grenada will be looking for its first Gold Cup victory when it faces Guatemala.
With the Reggae Boys having already qualified for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2005, their focus is seeding. While a draw would also suit Honduras in terms of advancing, it would assure Jamaica of the Group B title and a knockout round pairing against the Group C runner-up.
The group runner-up will have to face the second-place team from Group A, most likely Costa Rica.
It's a scenario both would prefer to avoid.
"With the win we understand that we can win the group," Fernandez said. "It (Jamaica) is a hard team. They've very fast. They have very good attacking players. The counterattack could be a problem.
"They might give us space, and for that we have to be careful, but we're still going to work hard and we're still aiming to win the group."
In Honduras, the Reggae Boys will be facing their toughest challenge to date. It comfortably beat fellow Caribbean side Grenada 4-0 and then wore down Guatemala 2-0. Honduras was held to an opening 0-0 draw against Guatemala - even with a man advantage for much of the second half - but overwhelmed Grenada with three goals by Carlo Costly and two more by Jerry Bengston.
The match will be a clash of regional champions, Central America vs. Caribbean, with Honduras considered better on the ball, but Jamaica faster and bigger.
Neither team trained Saturday evening after arriving from Miami, so both were to have just Sunday evening's session to prepare. It's not an ideal situation, but one both teams equally face.
The early game will be a consolation of sorts, with Guatemala still harboring quarterfinal hopes and Grenada just looking to avoid another lopsided loss.
Already thin with professionals, the Spice Boys have been hampered further by injuries. Leon Johnson (knee), David Cyrus (neck spasm), Ricky Charles (leg nerve) and Patrick Modeste (knee) all have been hurt. The team lost Kithson Bain before the Gold Cup began and
Craig Rocastle left the team with knee ligament damage suffered in the Jamaica game.
"Obviously, Guatemala have come off a two-nil defeat to Jamaica, so both sides will be playing for some pride and we'll go out there with that in mind," Grenada manager Michael Adams said. "We're going to have to look at our injury list because that has really put some damage to our preparations and see how people fare over the next couple of days."
Still, Guatemala may present the best chance for a win. It has only allowed only two goals, but hasn't scored any.