12713_chicharito_isi_usamnttq081512047 Tony Quinn/isiphotos.com
Hex Foes Abroad

A Goal for Gio Dos and Two for Chicharito

The Mexican stars each tally, one for his club and one for his country, while the rest of CONCACAF's elite prepare to take the field for their respective national teams. Jon Arnold has the latest on everyone's form.
BY Jon Arnold Posted
June 04, 2013
12:00 PM
The five national teams the U.S. faces during the Hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying include players who play outside CONCACAF. You know how the Americans fared abroad each week, but what about the players they’ll be facing? We’ll keep you updated on their progress each week.

With a Hex match moved to Tuesday night because of Mexico’s participation in the Confederations Cup and many players’ season over, we’ll take a look at the Jamaica-Mexico match and see which players will play a part.

Also, don’t forget to check out our section dedicated to all things Hex.

Jamaica
With many foreign-based players arriving very late in the camp, nobody is quite sure exactly what the 23-man roster for Tuesday night for Jamaica. The late arrivals have frustrated newly promoted technical director Alfredo Montesso.

One thing that is known is many familiar faces who play outside the Red Stripe Premier League won’t be suiting up for the Reggae Boyz. Luton Shelton, Jermaine Taylor, Demar Phillips, and Lloyd Doyley were either dropped from the team or are injured. Jobi McAnuff isn’t playing this cycle because he’s a father, the Jamaican Football Federation wrote in a brief, strange statement released on Sunday.

There could still be a Reading trio starting in Kingston, though, with defender Shaun Cummings set to join Adrian Mariappa and Gareth McCleary and make his Jamaica debut. Cummings rarely played for Reading but could assist against Chicharito and the Mexican attack.

Mexico
Speaking of Chicharito, he had a brace in Mexico’s friendly draw with Nigeria in Houston on Friday. The 2-2 result marks the sixth consecutive draw across all competitions for Chepo de la Torre’s team. El Tri would probably like someone else to score a goal or two, but is it really necessary? The Manchester United forward has been in remarkable form when wearing the green kit and Jamaica’s defense won’t be eager to see him walk into The Office.

Valencia released Andres Guardado early, and he started at left midfielder for El Tri. Javier Aquino came on in the match’s closing minutes. Guillermo Ochoa was on the bench and did not play.

Hector Moreno—a rumored Chelsea transfer target—is still out with a thigh injury and is in doubt for the match Tuesday.

A notable absence at the friendly was Gio dos Santos whose club, Mallorca, refused to release him early. Dos Santos had a beautiful goal in his club’s 4-2 win against Real Valladoid, but results didn’t go the right way and Mallorca was still relegated. The goal was something with dos Santos taking possession at the halfway line and running through the defense before putting away this left-footed effort. And Carlos Vela will kick up his heels after a job well done. The estranged forward’s club Real Sociedad clinched a Champions League place at the expense of Guardado’s Valencia with a win and a Valencia loss. Vela started and played 70 minutes.

Panama
Gabriel Gomez went the full 90 for Junior in a 1-0 loss to Medellin on Saturday. Gomez is in Panama and will train Tuesday.

Defender Luis Henriquez helped Lech Poznan to a 2-0 win Sunday before beginning his trip to Central America.

Armando Cooper was an unused substitute for Godoy Cruz in a 3-0 win against Arsenal (the one from Argentina).

The rest of the side played to a 2-1 loss against Peru in a friendly. 23-year-old Rolando Blackburn had the Panamanian goal.
Honduras
Osman Chavez was booked in the first half of Wisla Krakow’s 1-0 loss to Zaglebie Lubin. He and the Catrachos’ MLS contingent were the only absences for El Bicolor in a 2-0 friendly loss to Israel at Citi Field.

All the best moments here:
Costa Rica
Keylor Navas kept Real Betis and countryman Joel Campbell at bay save for a 61st minute equalizer from Jorge Molina that knotted the match 1-1.

Eventful match for the Tico pair at Valerenga. Diego Calvo scored a brace in a 3-2 cup win against Asker. Giancarlo Gonzalez got two yellow cards over the span of five minutes and was sent packing in the 78th.

Aalesund lost to a second division side in the cup this week, and Miguel Barrantes played the whole match.

Celso Borges played the full 90 for AIK’s 1-0 win against Norrkoping.

Giancarlo Gonzalez and Diego Calvo went the full 90, but Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg beat the club 2-1.

Bryan Ruiz and Christian Bolaños are prepping for Honduras.

Whose performance strikes the most fear in your heart? Have we missed any players who you think should be in the U.S.’ game tape rotation? Any information you’d like to see in future editions? Let us know in the comments section!

Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) is a writer based in Arizona and is ASN's CONCACAF correspondent.

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