Full Time Update: El Salvador has won this key match by a score of 3-2, in what turned out to be a thrilling game. Romero (12′), Alas(56′), and Burgos (76′) scored for El Salvador.
Guyana will host El Salvador this Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 8:00 PM EDT at National Stadium in Georgetown, in the “return” leg of this CONCACAF Group B qualifier. Antigua arrived in San Salvador with the hopes of pulling off a historic feat, and they did just that by getting a great 2-2 draw against El Salvador. This leaves the Salvadorian squad in a precarious position in Group B, with just two points in three matches played; two points behind Costa Rica, and seven behind Group B runaway leaders Mexico. Can El Salvador recuperate from a disappointing draw and get an urgently needed win in Guyana?
The game in San Salvador this past Friday started great for the Salvadorians, Isidro Gutierrez gave the home team the lead with a wonderful goal in the fourth minute. However, the Guyanese came with a lot of fight in them, and drew the score back even on a 20th minute sliding shot from Treyon Bobb. Osael Romero cam right back for El Salvador and scored in the 21st minute, giving the home team a 2-1 lead they would hold on for the rest of the first half. However, El Salvador was not able to finish off Guyana, and another goal from Treyon Bobb in the 54th minute tied the score once again. The end result was a historic 2-2 tie for Guyana.
El Salvador took the lead twice, but was unable to hold it and ended up with just one point, which leaves them in desperate need of points. Lets put this plain and simple, if El Salvador does not win in Guyana, they will be eliminated from the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers.
Lets assume Costa Rica will lose in Mexico City this Tuesday, this leaves Costa Rica with four points, and Mexico as group B winners with 12 points. A Salvadorian win in Georgetown puts them at five points. El Salvador’s final two matches will be at home against Costa Rica and away at Mexico. The away match at Mexico is a guaranteed loss (no disrespect meant to Salvadorian fans, Mexico has simply been playing too well to not win at home). A win against Costa RIca would give El Salvador eight total points and a second place spot in Group B assured. Of course, this is all assuming El Salvador wins on Tuesday, and defeats Costa Rica at home in October (two things which will not be easy for the Salvadorians to accomplish). Thus, the September 11, 2012 match against Guyana is an absolute must-win for El Salvador, without it they are eliminated.
Click here to view the latest CONCACAF WCQ standings
Prediction: Guyana demonstrated that it will not give up, and will fight tooth and nail for a historic win at home. El Salvador knows that not winning in Georgetown leaves them out of any World Cup possibilities; it is a virtual final for El Salvador. I believe El Salvador recuperates from the bad draw and gets a very tight and contested win. The score will be Guyana 1 – El Salvador 2. However, I would not be surprised at all if Guyana gets a point or even a win! If I were a betting man, I would stay as far away as possible from this match, as I truly think it can go in anyone’s favor.
Television: The Guyana vs El Salvador match will be shown on DirecTV by Pay-Per-View this Tuesday, September 11 at 8:00 PM Eastern.
