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Curacao thrash Bermuda 7-0 to top World Cup qualifying group as Jamaica held / Photo: STRINGER - AFP
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Curacao thrash Bermuda 7-0 to top World Cup qualifying group as Jamaica held
Curacao closed in on a 2026 World Cup berth on Thursday, routing Bermuda 7-0 to go top of their group in CONCACAF qualifying as Jamaica were held to a 1-1 draw by Trinidad and Tobago.
Jamaica, seeking a second World Cup appearance after making their debut in 1998, came into the night atop group B in the final round of qualifying in the North and Central America and Caribbean region.
A victory by Jamaica and a loss by Curacao would have seen the former clinch a berth, but instead they'll face a must-win match against Curacao when qualifying concludes on Tuesday.
Curacao, coached by veteran Dutch manager Dick Advocaat, romped past winless Bermuda in Devonshire.
Netherlands-born Jordi Paulina scored two goals in a memorable Curacao debut, drawing a penalty as he was taken down in the box and drilling the spot kick in the 48th minute to put Curacao up 3-0.
He added a second in the 63rd, seizing a rebound to slot home Curacao's fifth goal.
Leandro Bacuna had got things going with a penalty in the sixth minute and Juninho Bacuna made it 2-0 with a long range rocket in the 32nd.
Sonja Hansen tapped in in the 58th, Ar'Jany Martha scored on a free kick in the 82nd and Roshon van Eijma finished it off with another long-range blast in stoppage time.
In Port of Spain, Jamaica broke a scoreless deadlock in the 53rd minute as Renaldo Cephas finished off a fast break down the left side with a shot past Trinidad and Tobago keeper Denzil Smith into the bottom right corner.
Kevin Molino grabbed the equalizer for Trinidad and Tobago in the 85th, but the draw still saw them eliminated.
Suriname kept their bid for a first World Cup berth on track with a 4-0 victory over El Salvador in Paramaribo that eliminated the Salvadorans.
Richonell Margaret scored twice and Tjaronn Chery and Doraso Klas added one goal apiece for Suriname, who are tied atop group A on nine points with Panama, who beat Guatemala 3-2.
Jose Fajardo in the 78th minute grabbed the game-winner for Panama, who had taken a 2-0 lead on goals from Cecilio Waterman in the 30th and 44th before Arquimides Odonez and Rudy Munoz scored second-half goals for Guatemala.
- Nicaragua stun Honduras -
Honduras, chasing a fourth World Cup appearance and their first since 2014, were stunned 2-0 by Nicaragua in Managua to stand tied atop group C with Haiti, who beat Costa Rica 1-0.
Nicaragua, who came in bottom of the group, opened the scoring in the 11th on a goal from Bancy Hernandez. Honduras pressed in vain for an equalizer but Jaime Moreno's 82nd minute strike sealed the win.
After missing a chance to secure their berth, Honduras face a tough final match against third-placed Costa Rica while Haiti play Nicaragua.
CONCACAF giants the United States, Canada and Mexico are already qualified as co-hosts of the World Cup that will feature a field expanded to 48 teams for the first time.
Twelve other nations advanced to the final round of regional qualifying, where the three group winners will earn automatic berths for next year's showpiece.
The two second-place teams with the best records will still have a chance to qualify via FIFA's inter-confederation playoffs.
T.Cusumano--INP
