On a dramatic final evening of CONCACAF's hexagonal qualifying process for next summer's FIFA World Cup, a few Portland Timbers players were in action.
Forward Ryan Johnson and defender Alvas Powell were both second half substitutions for Jamaica in their 2-2 draw in Kingston against Honduras. Though the Reggae Boyz had already been eliminated from World Cup qualifying, the draw was just enough to see Los Catrachos through to Brazil.
Elsewhere last night, Rodney Wallace was on the bench for Costa Rica as they defeated Mexico 2-1. Los Ticos had already punched their ticket to Brazil by securing second place in the Hexagonal behind the U.S. However, their defeat of El Tri put traditional CONCACAF power Mexico's hopes of 2014 qualification in serious danger.
But the evening wasn't over. USMNT helped their longtime rival with a dramatic comeback scoring two goals in stoppage time to defeat Panama 3-2. It was a crushing loss for Los Canaleros eliminating them in cruel fashion from what would have been their first World Cup appearance. For Mexico, it meant that they live to play another day in a home-and-home playoff against New Zealand for one of the last remaining World Cup slots. The Panama loss also further secured Honduras' third and final CONCACAF automatic World Cup spot.
