The "Little Fish" scored some big goals for Guatemala in a 6-0 drubbing of St. Lucia in Guatemala City Saturday night.
Carlos Ruiz scored four goals for Guatemala in the opening leg of Stage 2 of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Lois Angeles Galaxy striker was one of several Major League Soccer players who were on international duty on a busy weekend of World Cup qualifiers.
Mario Rodriguez and Abner Trigueros also scored for Guatemala, which is all but through to the third round of qualifying. Barring a meltdown of historic proportions in the return leg on June 21, Guatemala will join Honduras, which wrapped up its aggregate series with Puerto Rico Saturday night.
Leading 4-0 heading into the second leg in Bayamon Saturday night, Honduras played Puerto Rico to a 2-2 draw, becoming the first nation to move on to the semifinal round in CONCACAF qualifying.
Toronto FC midfielder Amado Guevara played the entire 90 minutes for Honduras, which jumped in front on a 22nd-minute goal by David Suazo. New York Red Bulls forward Chris Megaloudis leveled the game for Puerto Rico in the 31st minute and former MetroStars midfielder Petter Villegas put the hosts in front 2-1 on 40 minutes.
Wilson Palacios tied the match at 2-2 in the 52nd minute for Honduras. San Jose's Ivan Guerrero was on the Honduran bench, but did not play.
Canada is confident about advancing following a 3-0 victory against St. Vincent and Grenadines Sunday in Kingston. Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad earned the clean sheet for Canada, which also had FC Dallas defender Adrian Serioux and Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, who set up two goals, each playing 90 minutes. Toronto FC defender Jim Brennan played the final five minutes for Canada, which hosts the return leg Friday at brand-new Stade Saputo in Montreal.
Grenada and Costa Rica are all level heading into the second leg of their qualifying series, playing to a surprising 2-2 draw at Grenada National Stadium Saturday night. New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph started for Grenada, which played the final 40 minutes with 10 men after a straight red card to Ricky Charles. Chicago defender Gonzalo Segares came off in the 66th minute with Costa Rica trailing by a goal.
The United States should have little problem advancing to the third round following an 8-0 shellacking of Barbados Sunday at The Home Depot Center. Houston's Brian Ching had a hat trick, Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan added one and Chivas keeper Brad Guzan earned the clean sheet in the rout. Perhaps the only sour news for the U.S. was that Colorado midfielder Pablo Mastroeni left the match after 26 minutes with a strained left gluteus.
In the biggest upset of the second stage of CONCACAF qualifying, Bermuda, featuring New England Revolution midfielder Khano Smith, defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 Sunday at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.
Smith played the entire 90 minutes for Bermuda, which received a first-half brace from John Nusum. Former Columbus Crew striker Stern John scored the lone goal for the Soca Warriors.
Real Salt Lake's Andy Williams made his triumphant return to the Jamaican national team, scoring in his first World Cup qualifier following a personal hiatus. The veteran midfielder, who struck in the 66th minute, started for the Reggae Boyz, as did Toronto FC defender Tyrone Marshall, in a 7-0 drubbing of Bahamas in Kingston Sunday night.
In African qualifying, Senegal remains atop Group 6 following a 2-2 draw against Liberia Sunday in Monrovia. While Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul did not play for Senegal, which has five points in three matches, D.C. United striker Francis Doe came off the bench to play the final 37 minutes for Liberia, which rallied from a 2-0 deficit with a pair of goals in the final 12 minutes to earn its first second point of the group stage.
A 22nd-minute penalty kick lifted Sierra Leone to a stunning 1-0 victory against South Africa Saturday in Freetown, its first win in Group 4. San Jose's Kei Kamara started for Sierra Leone and played 90 minutes, picking up a yellow card in the 88th minute. Sierra Leone now move into a three-way tie for second place in Group 4, six points behind first-place Nigeria.
New England Revolution rookie Kenny Mansally came off the bench for The Gambia in a 1-0 win against Algeria Saturday in Banjul. The Gambia, with five points out of three games, is tied atop Group 6 with Senegal.
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