(BLOGGER'S NOTE: Not all conspiracies end in universally negative results. I believe the United States is a waste of time and energy in the World Cup of soccer, and also am sick of the only people who want to watch soccer in the USA usually with their American flags in one hand and a beer and/or their dick in the other!)
So let's get on with it.
Entering tonight's final matches in the CONCACAF "Hex" (the six-team final group to determine the three teams to qualify for the World Cup in Russia (which will probably be blog-boycotted) and a fourth team to qualify for a playoff (which, this morning, it was determined to be with Australia), the standings were as follows:
Mexico has already won the "Hex" and qualified. Costa Rica is second and has qualified as of a result Saturday, a draw with Honduras.
So there's one full spot left and the playoff with Australia.
The United States had 12 points (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw) and a goal differential in the group (the first tiebreaker) of +5.
Panama is the next team in the list with 10 points and a -2 goal differential, largely attributed to a 4-0 loss to the United States last week.
Honduras also has 10 points, but a -7 goal differential.
Because of the goal differences, the United States is absolutely qualified with a win and effectively with a draw. The only way the USA could lose is to lose to the group minnows and have both Panama and Honduras win. The only way the USA could go to the playoff was to lose and have only one of Honduras and Panama win. Honduras and Panama needed to track each other's results for placement between the two. A substantively superior result for Honduras gets them the higher spot, otherwise Panama.
The United States went to lowly Trinidad and Tobago tonight.
Panama hosted Costa Rica
Honduras hosted Mexico.
As is tradition for a final phase, all matches kicked off at the same time.
17th minute: Mexico scores. HON 0-1 MEX
Same minute: Shock own goal against the United States T&T 1-0 USA
34th minute: Honduras equalizes. HON 1-1 MEX
36th minute: Costa Rica scores. PAN 0-1 CRC
37th minute: Shocker in Trinidad! It's 2-0 T&T!!
39th minute: Mexico retakes the lead. HON 1-2 MEX
Halftime.
All three teams are losing. The USA would still automatically qualify, Panama would play Australia.
Second half:
47th minute: One of the few bright spots, Christian Pulisic, halves the deficit. T&T 2-1 USA.
53rd minute: Gabriel Torrez solidifies Panama's position and draws the match. PAN 1-1 CRC.
54th minute: Another own goal, this time against Mexico, squares THAT match. HON 2-2 MEX.
60th minute: Romell Quioto gives Honduras a temporary full qualifying spot! HON 3-2 MEX
Now, for the record, I will tell you that the USA and Honduras matches ended like that. Trinidad and Tobago embarrasses the United States, with only their second win in the group, 2-1.
Honduras beats Mexico 3-2. So Honduras, for the moment, has won the full spot, and, unless Panama gets a second goal, the USA plays Australia.
Remember that 53rd minute goal? This was it!!
And an 88th minute goal WINS IT FOR PANAMA!!Esa bola nunca entró ¡Árbitro vulgar! pic.twitter.com/9xyrrZIzWt— TDMás (@tdmas_cr) October 11, 2017
And, if anyone remembers, whose country had the largest stake in taking down Sepp Blatter and his cronies???
Exactly.
So two own goals AND a goal allowed that should never have been a goal lead to the one-goal victories for the EXACT RESULT that allowed the United States to be eliminated from Russia 2018! Panama wins the full spot, Honduras goes two legs with Australia for a spot in the main tournament.
Now, don't get me wrong: I love that the United States is eliminated -- but does it have to be THIS FUCKING BLATANT????
EDIT TO ADD: Watch the third Honduras goal at about 10 minutes of this video and tell me the scorer was not MILES OFFSIDE!!!
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