52113_jamaica_isi_78060213di_mex_jam_rickett David Leah/isiphotos.com
Hex Foes Abroad

Reggae Boyz Prep for U.S. with a Match vs. Tottenham

Jamaica is done messing around (well, almost) and gets ready for a crucial Hexagonal match against the Americans. Jon Arnold has that story and more in his look around the region.
BY Jon Arnold Posted
May 21, 2013
8:06 AM
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. Also, don’t forget to check out our section dedicated to all things Hex.

We’ll focus first on the United States’ next Hex opponents:

Jamaica
With a game against Mexico before hosting the United States, the Reggae Boyz’ camp is already underway in the Bahamas. There’s a friendly against Tottenham on Thursday and a match May 31 with the host country’s national side.

Rodolph Austin and Jermaine Johnson are already in camp, as is Daniel Gordon, a defender on German club Karlsruhe seeking his first cap.

Marvin Elliott, Adrian Mariappa, Jobi McAnuff,, Gareth McCleary, Theo Robinson, Dane Richards, Demar Phillips, and Jermaine Beckford are all joining up by May 30. Beckford was expected to complete a move to Bolton, but negotiations have slowed. Lloyd Doyley hopes to help Watford to the Championship in the playoff final Monday.

Richards played all of a scoreless draw between his Bodo/Glimt team and Hamkam in Norway’s second division.

In Norway’s top division, Phillips came on for Aalesund in the 69th minute of a 2-0 victory over Odd. Tremaine Stewart didn’t feature.

Panama
Rolando Escobar stayed on his hot streak for Deportivo Anzoátegui in Venezuela, scoring its only goal in a 1-1 draw at Zamora on some pretty awful defending. The goal is at the 1:38 mark. Román Torres and Millonarios topped Gabriel Gomez’s Junior side by a 3-0 margin in Colombian league play. Former MLS star Fredy Montero had the opening goal.

Luis Henríquez returned from injury to play all of Lech Poznan’s 1-0 loss to Legia Warsaw.

Armando Cooper played more minutes than he has for Godoy Cruz in several weeks, coming on in the 76th minute of a 3-1 win against Velez Sarsfield.

Honduras
Roger Espinoza had an awesome match at left back for relegated Wigan in a 2-2 draw. He assisted fellow CONCACAF player Emerson Boyce on the first goal of the match. His teammate Maynor Figueroa is injured but was able to celebrate the FA Cup victory at the parade.

Osman Chavez returned to the Wisla Krakow lineup, but it didn’t go too well. His club took a 3-0 loss Friday.

A pair of Catrachos beat up on the same Scottish city. Enrique Izaguirre manned the left back spot for Celtic in a 4-0 win against Dundee United. Jorge Claros went the full 90 as Hibernian beat Dundee 1-0.

Andy Najar is probably happy to miss DC United’s struggles, but he still hasn’t appeared for Anderlecht.

Luis Garrido started and came out in the 70th minute of Red Star’s loss to bitter rival Partizan.

Carlo Costly and Veria’s season is over.

Wilson Palacios made the bench but didn’t appear in Stoke City’s draw with Southampton. He played less than an hour with the Potters this season, however he was still called in for the June matches by Luis Suarez.

Costa Rica
Keylor Navas was Levante’s keeper but the team continued its skid, losing 3-2 to Rayo Vallecano.

Fulham closed its season on a high note, beating Swansea 3-0. Bryan Ruiz assisted Dimitar Berbatov’s goal in the match.

Bryan Oviedo was an unused substitute for Everton in a season-closing loss to Chelsea.

Joel Campbell started for Real Betis against Mallorca but failed to impress and was substituted in the 38th minute. May has represented a dip in form for the young winger, but the rest of the season has a return to Arsenal on the table though he might rather stay in Spain.

Celso Borges played the whole match and AIK bounced back for a 3-2 win in Sweden.

Michael Barrantes went the full 90 for Aalesund in a 2-0 win over Odd.

Giancarlo Gonzalez and Diego Calvo both played the full 90 for Valerenga in a 2-0 win against Tromso.

Christian Bolaños was an unused substitute when Copenhagen lost to Randers on Thursday, but he started the club’s 1-1 draw with SonderjyskE.

Mexico
Chicharito went the full 90 in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last match. He had one assist and scored to put the Red Devils up 5-2 on West Brom, a lead that would eventually end in a 5-5 scoreline. Carlos Vela won’t be joining the Mexican national team for its June qualifiers, but he’s still soldiering on for Real Sociedad who stayed in fourth with a 2-1 win against Sevilla. Vela started and was taken off late after being booked in the match.

Valencia stayed level on points with Sociedad by beating Sevilla. Andres Guardado scooted up and went the full 90 on the left side of midfield.

Espanyol was handed a 2-0 loss by Deportivo La Coruna. Hector Moreno missed the match in preparation for the Barcelona derby Sunday.

Mallorca beat Real Betis and are still alive. Gio dos Santos went the full 90 in the Monday match that gives hope the club can avoid relegation.

Guillermo Ochoa played keeper as usual for Ajaccio, which drew Rennes 1-1.

Another week, another booking for Javier Aquino, who started and went 70 minutes for Villarreal in a 4-1 win over Girona.

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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