Jamaica Reggae Boyz face must-win World Cup qualifier

Jamaica’s “Reggae Boyz” face a must-win home match Wednesday in order to keep alive their dreams of a spot at the 2010 South Africa World Cup from the North, Central American and Caribbean zone.

Three of six spots in next year’s final round-robin qualifying tournament are at stake while the United States, Costa Rica and El Salvador have already clinched their places in the 2009 showdown for three places in South Africa.

The Jamaicans will host eliminated Canada while Group B leader Mexico will travel to Honduras with each team vulnerable to being overtaken by Jamaica and eliminated should the Caribbean squad conquer the winless Canadians.

With Mexico on 10 points at 3-1-1 and Honduras on nine at 3-0-2, the Jamaicans – on 2-1-2 for seven points – must win to have a hope. If they do, a Mexican victory would leave Honduras ousted and the Reggae Boyz advancing.

Should Honduras win at home, Jamaica’s path is difficult. The Jamaicans trail Mexico by seven in the goal-difference tie-breaker and would need a rout of Canada, which has surrendered only 10 goals in five matches.

A Honduras-Mexico draw advances the Mexicans and would require Jamaica to overcome a goal difference of six behind Honduras.

Mexico beat Honduras 2-1 on home soil on August 20 to open the qualifying while Jamaica and Canada opened with a 1-1 draw the same day.

The other available berth comes from Group A, where a US team that has already booked its spot in the next phase will entertain Guatemala and Cuba, already eliminated, will visit Trinidad and Tobago.

A draw or victory by the hosts at Port-of-Spain will send Trinidad and Tobago into the next round. Should the Cubans pull a stunner, Guatemala would still have to defeat the Americans on their home soil to advance.

The US team won 1-0 at Guatemala in its zone qualifying opener while Trinidad and Tobago thumped host Cuba 3-1.

Unbeaten Costa Rica will visit El Salvador in a meeting of Group C teams that have already advanced while Surinam will host Haiti in a matchup of eliminated squads.