Aldo de Nigris scored in the 48th minute to give unbeaten Mexico a 1-0 victory over Jamaica on Tuesday in a North American qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup.
De Nigris, a 29-year-old forward who plays for Monterrey of the Mexican league, headed home a crossing pass from defender Carlos Salcido for the only goal to lift the Mexicans atop the six-team Concacaf regional qualifying group.
Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts denied Manchester United striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in the 62nd minute, and deflected a 1-on-1 effort by the English Premier League star with a right hand in the 84th minute.
But the “Reggae Boyz” could not muster the equaliser off a corner kick in stoppage time and suffered a stinging blow to their hopes of reaching next year’s global football showdown in Brazil, remaining last in the group. The Mexicans won after opening with three draws to move atop the table with six points after four matches, one point ahead of Panama and two in front of Costa Rica, United States and Honduras with Jamaica last, 0-2-2 for two points.
Late strike gives Nigeria victory
Ahmed Musa’s late winner delivered a 1-0 win for Nigeria in Kenya and put the African champions clear at the top of their World Cup qualifying group on Wednesday after Malawi’s slip.
Malawi earlier were held to 0-0 at home by Namibia, opening the way for Nigeria to establish a two-point lead atop Group F after four of six games in Africa’s qualifying competition.
The 20-year-old forward Musa scored in the 81st minute to clinch Nigeria’s victory in Nairobi and repay coach Stephen Keshi for his call-up in the absence of striker Victor Moses and Russia-based Emmanuel Emenike.
Malawi, who were level with Nigeria at the top of the group, couldn’t find a way past the Namibians at in Blantyre for its third draw in four games.
Iran close in oN world cup spot
Iran boosted their chances of clinching an automatic berth from Asia at next year’s World Cup finals with a 1-0 win over Qatar in their crucial qualifying game here on Tuesday.
Iranian-Dutch striker Reza Nournia struck the vital goal in the 66th minute to end 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar’s hopes of reaching the finals.
It was the first time Iran had beaten Qatar in four qualifying matches for the Brazil tournament.
Their three previous matches, including two in the third and penultimate phase of qualifying, had ended in draws.
Tuesday’s victory took Iran to 10 points in group A, and with two more games in hand, the Asian giants look set for their fourth appearance in the World Cup finals.
Japan squad for confed cup
A Japan squad without any surprises was chosen for the Confederations Cup on Wednesday, a day after the team secured a fifth straight World Cup appearance. Keisuke Honda and Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa were among the 23 named by coach Alberto Zaccheroni.