March 25 to 31, 2019 Global Futbol MatchesA Chapter by Steve Clark The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2019. March 25-31, 2019
A
number of Women’s Nations Cup Qualifiers concluded this week after a strenuous
fixture, mixed with delays and complications. Teams now have less than two and
half months to prepare for the inaugural Global Futbol Nations Cup.
Germany
and Portugal rounded out their matches with away draws to Albania and Andorra
respectively. Germany qualified from Group A with a three-point buffer over
Portugal. Iceland did not perform as well as they would have liked, and will
need to perform better when they return later to the mainland in the Women’s
Euro Qualifiers.
In
the final Match Day in Group B, Sweden needed to defeat Luxembourg at home,
whilst hoping Bulgaria would scrounge out a draw against the Ukraine. It was
not meant to be, as the Kiev game went the way of the home side, pulling off a
come-from-behind 2-1 victory, and sending the Ukrainians to the Nations Cup.
Spain
finished their qualification campaign with an away victory over Slovenia,
whilst Russia, who also only lost one game in the whole process, defeated
Cyprus on their home turf. This became one of the more predictable groups, as
each nation finished in their expected positions. Spain will now rest their
players as much as possible before a training camp in preparation for the
Nations Cup.
Norway
needed to win away by a margin of at least four to Georgia to have any chance
of topping Group D. They were able to win, but the 2-1 scoreline meant the
previous match against Croatia, a draw, was where they faltered. The Croatians
are now full of confidence and will enter into the Nations Cup eager to advance
as far as possible. One game remains in this group due to postponement:
Azerbaijan against Wales, which is a dead rubber.
Thanks
to a postponement on Match Day 5, Europe’s Group E is poised for an intense
finish. Three points separate the top three of Turkey, Switzerland and Finland.
Switzerland play host to bottom-placed Lithuania, and should win that match. If
so, Turkey will have to win away against Finland to remain top of the ladder
and therefore advance into the Nations Cup. Finland can hypothetically qualify
if they defeat Turkey by two goals or more and hope that Lithuania can produce
a draw or win over Switzerland.
England’s
away defeat of Malta capped off a wonderful campaign for one of the favourites
of the Nations Cup. Their only loss came at the hands of Slovakia back on Match
Day 3. Since then, England has been near faultless. Meanwhile, Ireland will be
pleased with coming runners up, and landing only three points behind England.
Italy
confirmed their place in the Nations Cup with a 2-0 win over the Czech
Republic. Hungary, meanwhile, did Italy a favour by defeating Israel at home by
a solitary goal. Hungary will now play a delayed match against the Czech
Republic. Whoever wins will move up one place on the table: Hungary up to
runners up, while the Czechs will hope to lift off the bottom of Group G in a
thoroughly disappointing campaign of theirs.
Bosnia
gained a crucial away win against Denmark, moving six points clear of them on
the table and leapfrogging Scotland. Latvia also won their first game, playing
against Serbia. In the postponed matches from Match Day 5, Bosnia host Denmark
in the reverse leg of this past week’s match, as does Serbia over Latvia.
Serbia must win and hope Bosnia loses to have any chance of qualifying. A draw
for Bosnia is the minimum to automatically advance.
Having
already sewn up qualification, the Netherlands flew to Montenegro, where the
home team pulled off a defiant win. Austria gained an important win against
bottom-placed Faroe Islands, placing a gap between them. Three games, postponed
from earlier in the campaign, still need to be played, but teams are jostling
only for the minor placings. The Faroe Islanders have two home games remaining,
and may still rise off the bottom, overcoming Austria and/or Montenegro.
Poland
finished their qualification campaign unbeaten, drawing 2-2 with France in
Paris. That draw also gave Belgium a chance to leapfrog the French as they
gained three points away to Kosovo. France, being the hosts, still qualifies,
but there are plenty of cracks in their play, particularly in defence. Can they
turn that around between now and June? Meanwhile, Poland has the momentum to
progress deep in the upcoming tournament.
Brazil
had already booked a place in the Nations Cup. Argentina needed a win to
guarantee progression to the Playoffs, which they managed against Venezuela in
Caracas. It mattered less when Peru could not overcome Bolivia away, ending in
a 2-2 draw.
Uruguay,
already having sewn up top spot, sealed their surprising campaign with a 2-1
away win over Paraguay, who ended up bottom of the group. Colombia needed a
high-scoring win over Ecuador to regain second place over Chile. Their four
goals were enough to secure such a position and a place in the knockout stages.
Colombia
now plays twice against Argentina to determine South America’s third team in
the Nations Cup. Both have the winning momentum, but Argentina look the
stronger team overall.
Namibia
tried their hardest to defeat or draw against Nigeria, but the west African
nation felt compelled to finish on a good note, winning 2-1. Mali’s progression
to the Playoffs is based on their ability to scrounge results: with only one
loss, and four draws helping their campaign. Madagascar also won their final game,
but the team was too far below Zimbabwe to have an effect on their table
positioning.
Seven
wins and a draw for South Africa, including this week’s four-goal win over
Lesotho, set them up to qualify automatically for the 2019 Nations Cup. Burkina
Faso also managed to finish with an away draw against Botswana, though they
performed below par overall. The South Africans will relish not having to play
two additional games after a strenuous qualification process. That freshness
may be a critical factor in France.
Morocco
continued their streak of no losses after a draw away to Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, Zambia remained runners up when they defeated Mozambique by three
goals. Morocco
will now take on Mali in the Playoffs, hoping to qualify for the Nations Cup.
The Moroccan women are favourites, but as with all things football, nothing
will be assured until the final whistle of the second match.
Cameroon
needed to defeat the Ivoirians in their final match. However, the defensive
structure of Côte d’Ivoire after scoring early made it tricky for the home side
to score more than one goal. In the end, the draw favoured the Ivoirians, and
they now prepare for the Playoffs. Kenya
also finished off their campaign well with a 2-0 away victory over the Congo.
Ghana
sat back and watched their counterparts jostle for minor placings. Senegal
streaked four goals against Ethiopia and leapfrogged them on the table, as did
Tanzania with a 2-0 victory over eSwatini. With
the extra break, Ghana will be fresher against Côte d’Ivoire, their opponent in
the Playoffs. However, the Ivoirians are known for their attacking prowess, and
will give everything to overcome their neighbours to qualify for France.
In
a tight group, New Caledonia came out victors based on a greater goal
difference, concluded by an away win over Samoa. Tahiti scored twice against
Papua New Guinea to rise above them on the table, but it was not enough to win
the group.
New
Caledonia will face New Zealand in the Playoffs for the solitary Oceanian spot
in France. The Kiwis managed another win, this time away to Tonga, thus securing
their place in the Playoffs. Their nearest rivals, Fiji, also won away against
the Cook Islands, but it was not enough. Had Fiji not drawn at home to the Cook
Islands earlier in the year, this may be a different and much tighter contest
between the two. Nevertheless, Fiji can hold their head high, only losing one
game and also defeating New Zealand at home.
Needing
to wrap up first place, Uzbekistan took on below-par Japan, gaining a 3-2 win.
India, at the same time, took on Bahrain, but was unable to pull off a win and
have any hopes of making it to the Playoffs. Japan
will have to rethink their strategy and look to the Women’s Asian Cup
Qualifiers, where they will have to step up and reclaim the prowess they are
known for. Uzbekistan
will, on the other hand, prepare for a contest against Iran.
All
three games in Match Day 10 for Group B ended in draws, much to the benefit of
leaders Iran. China will rue missing out on a win over Nepal, but playing at
high altitude in Nepal proved too tricky at the end of the long campaign.
Thanks to Iran tying with Syria, China would have needed to score five goals to
draw level on goal difference. It was simply not meant to be, and Iran is one
step closer to France. Their next challenge is the Playoffs against Uzbekistan.
With
first place in the bag, Jordan played a second-string side against the North
Koreans, which helped the away side gain an important win. Afghanistan and
Indonesia played out a draw, as did Sri Lanka and Taiwan at the bottom of the
group. With
one game remaining, Jordan is unable to overtake South Korea’s near-perfect
record, and will take on the UAE, who won Group E in a similar surprise to
Jordan’s campaign.
South
Korea, with one game remaining, has automatic qualification for France. Singapore
and Hong Kong also posted wins, pressing them into second and third above
Myanmar. The final matches, a reversal of this week’s matches, will finalise
the minor placings, whilst South Korea will have one eye already on the Nations
Cup.
UAE
were the shock of the group, as they overcame Australia early in the tournament
�" drawing in Sydney meant they had the upper hand on the Matildas. The
Australians will lick their wounds and prepare for four years’ time in
qualifying for the first Global Futbol Women’s World Cup. That seems a long way
off, and their structure must shift if they are to have longevity in
qualification periods. The
UAE will now fight against Jordan for the right to play in France. Both sides
saw off the favourites in their group, and will be confident in advancing. These
results prove the banding together of the Arab nations to grow the women’s game
in their associations is paying off. Potentially, at least one, and possibly
two, from the Middle East can represent all of Asia in the Nations Cup. The
tide in women’s football is turning.
The
United States finished the first stage of their campaign with a 3-1 away
victory over Panama. St Kitts and Nevis also gained away points against Aruba.
Haiti’s
draw against Puerto Rico ensured top place for the Caribbean nation. This was helped
by Antigua and Barbuda’s win over Barbados, which also brought them off the
bottom of Group B. The
Haitians now face their ultimate challenge: beating the US and reaching the
Nations Cup.
In
a shock final Match Day, Canada could not win away on US Virgin Island soil.
That gave Guyana the opportunity to win the group. In a high-scoring match, the
Guyana tribe overcame St Vincent and the Grenadines and thus earned the right
to the North American Playoffs. Canada
will rue their missed chances across all games, but particularly the misses
this week. Their powerhouse status, like Australia, Norway and Japan, has been
shattered.
On
the other hand, Mexico did not drop a game as they easily saw off Cuba, Bermuda
and Curacao. Bermuda’s final match saw a solid win against Curacao and end
level on points with Cuba. Mexico
now face Guyana in the Playoffs, who they believe should easily be defeated.
A
win this week would see Jamaica through to the Playoffs, whilst Costa Rica did
everything in their power to draw closer on paper, but Dominica held on for a
home draw. Jamaica, on the other hand, kept Suriname winless as they eased two
past the group’s minnows.
Having
already won the group, Trinidad and Tobago fielded a third-string side, drawing
1-1 with Grenada at home. The Dominican Republic then defeated St Lucia away by
two goals. They can feel content with their campaign and will be better
prepared for the next qualifiers. Trinidad
and Tobago will now see how much Jamaica is willing to reach the Nations Cup as
they face each other in the Playoffs. Qualified
Nations: South
Korea South
Africa Uruguay Brazil Poland France Netherlands Italy England Croatia Spain Ukraine Germany 11
nations are yet to qualify. In
the Men’s Nations League,
The
first twenty minutes between Jamaica and Ecuador saw end-to-end football,
including the home side hitting the woodwork twice. Ecuador scored first
through Orejuela, with the post-hitter working in his favour. As the half
neared its conclusion, Jamaica drew level via Burke’s cut in behind the defence
to a through ball and slotting with ease. Jamaica dominated the second half,
and this led to a brilliant team goal, finished by Vassell. Ecuador’s luck with
the woodwork shifted, and the home team came away with the three points, leaping
above Argentina on the table. The final Match Day sees Argentina play host to
Jamaica, whilst Ecuador flies to Bolivia, who are already relegated from League
A. Argentina will hope to win, and hope that Bolivia does the same, to reach
the League A Playoffs.
St
Vincent and the Grenadines struggled to maneouver out of their defensive half
for much of the first 45 minutes. The only thing keeping them in the game was
their goalkeeper, Mckie, and a string of Chilean offsides. Eventually, Chile
capitalised on their dominance through Castillo and substitute Mora. Making a
few changes, the St Vincent coach, Kendale Mercury, sent Chandler into
attacking midfield, and this brought about an immediate goal. Chandler then had
a chance to score his second and tie the game, but his shot fired against the
crossbar. Chile held on for the full three points and the lead in Group A4.
Mexico should win at home in their final match against St Vincent and the
Grenadines, but that will make no difference, as whatever result in Peru versus
Chile will mean one of those sides will always be above them in first place.
Chile needs a draw or win, whereas a Peruvian win will ensure a spot in the
Playoffs to be crowned the Americas Nations League champions.
Trinidad
and Tobago confirmed their status as a powerhouse in the Caribbean with a 2-0
win over Nicaragua. The highlight was Peltier’s inclusion in the second half,
and with his first touch, set up Plaza for an easy goal from right next to the
penalty spot. The Cayman Islands found their first win for the tournament,
although they had to work for it against Barbados. The game started with little
major attacks on goal until the 55th minute, when Mark Ebanks hit both posts
with one shot and back into play. That direct attack for goal triggered the
Islanders into gear, and a minute later, Matthew Suberan had a goal. Mark
Ebanks then slotted from a corner, but a Barbados penalty meant the final 22
minutes were played on edge, as Barbados searched for an equalising goal. It
was not meant to be, and the home team had three points, and is only behind
Nicaragua due to goal difference.
Despite
Guyana’s set course for League C, they put up a grand fight against Panama,
even though Gabriel Torres set the visitors towards victory. Godoy’s early miss
was Panama’s main other chance, before Guyana worked into the game, first
through Sam Cox’s ripper goal, with pressure surrounding him. Substitute Trayon
Bobb’s four corners then all hit their mark, with the second to Cox, who nailed
his second goal. From there, Guyana continued attacking, and came away with
their first points of the tournament. That result helped Cuba doubly so, as
they jumped to first place after their three-nil whitewash of Grenada.
Grenada’s defence held out constant thwarts for the first twenty minutes,
before the game settled for both sides. However, in the 39th minute, Yordan
Santa Cruz slotted a gem with his left foot, knocking the underside of the
crossbar before bouncing over the line. Teammate López made it two in a lengthy
injury time. From there, Cuba had the upper hand, and could have annihilated
Grenada, but only managed one more goal via Morejon. It now sets up a brilliant
final Match Day, with three teams all on the same points. Cuba hosts Panama,
whilst Grenada head to Guyana. With the home advantage, Cuba should
advance.
Curacao
showed their intent as they advanced to the attacking third multiple times
against the undefeated Hondurans, although their plays worked on the right,
compared to their more-attacking left-side players. Both nations had a series
of chances to score in the second half, but the game ended in a scoreless draw.
A draw befell Belize and St Kitts and Nevis, as wayward shots kept Belize from
winning the match (five out of seventeen shots on target). In fact, being 2-1
down late frustrated their coach, Palmiro Salas, until substitute Everal Trapp
managed a long shot past goalkeeper Julani Archibald. Three teams can still be
relegated, with Curacao having the advantage of a home game, and Belize needing
an away win against the might of Honduras.
In
Group B4, Haiti and Canada were both fighting for promotion to League A. When
Canada’s Kaye scored late in the first half, it opened up a flurry of
opportunities, including Player of the Match Hoilette’s goal, and by half time,
the home side led El Salvador by three goals. That margin remained the same for
the rest of the match. The Turks and Caicos Islands turned a four-goal loss
last time to Haiti into a three-nil win at home. After Billy Forbes won a
penalty, the home side filled with confidence at the prospect of winning, and
kept it up, with Forbes scoring the third goal. When Canada host Haiti in the
final match, the North Americans hope to rise to the challenge and join the
same league as many of the South American nations.
Suriname
gained a crucial three points away to Anguilla, thanks to goals from Elshot and
Rijssel, where the latter has now scored three in the tournament. Suriname now
sit back and await the result of Anguilla against Aruba, where they hope the
home side will defeat their opponents.
Up
until this week in Group C2, every match had been won by the home team, and by
a margin of one. The US Virgin Islands broke that pattern, winning by three
goals over Dominica. That means now the final game will determine the winner of
the group: if Antigua and Barbuda win by two goals, they will progress. The US
Virgin Islands, however, will come into this match full of confidence,
especially with Mack scoring a double. Both goals were chips over an advancing
goalkeeper.
Bermuda
defeated the Bahamas two goals to nil, and this now has them on top of the
group and almost set to win the group. However, their six missed shots and some
cracking defence by the away team in the first half made Bermuda earn the win
in the second half, with a double by Nahki Wells. In the final match, Puerto
Rico must win by three goals to ensure a berth in League B, whereas Bermuda
will do their utmost to claim first place and rise in rankings.
The
Dominican Republic had a scare against St Lucia, where the away team came back
from two goals down. It was the substitute Francisco Núñez that secured the
Dominicans’ third win for the tournament. As for Montserrat, they won crucially
away against British Virgin Islands with the same scoreline as their previous
Nations League encounter. The winner will come down to the final Match Day, where
the Dominican Republic host Montserrat, and a draw will ensure the host’s
progression to League B.
© 2019 Steve Clark |
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Added on April 5, 2019 Last Updated on April 5, 2019 Author
Steve ClarkAdelaide, South Australia, AustraliaAboutA free spirited educator who dabbles in the art of writing novels and articles. more..Writing
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