PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC: JAMAICA AND Haiti are battling today for the last spot in the CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) Under-20 world qualifying tournament.
The Haitians, 2-1 winners in the first leg in Kingston two weeks ago, only need a draw at home in the return leg to advance to the CONCACAF Group B finals in the United States in November.
Jamaica, the last English-speaking Caribbean hope in the qualifying series, were given a lifeline with a second-half goal on September 15 after Kelly Jean Rood and Max Louis had given French-speaking Haiti a 2-0 halftime advantage.
The winners of the tie will face hosts United States, Canada and El Salvador in Group B matches from November 13-17.
Group A, to be held in Panama from October 16-20, will join the host nation, Guatemala, Mexico, and Cuba, who eliminated Trinidad and Tobago in their Caribbean Zone play-off two weeks ago.
The top two teams in each final tournament earn berths in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, to be held March 25 to April 16 next year in the United Arab Emirates.
SCHEDULE
GROUP A: (Panama, October 16-20)
Oct. 16: Mexico vs Cuba; Panama vs Guatemala
Oct. 18: Guatemala vs Mexico; Panama vs Cuba
Oct. 20: Cuba vs Guatemala; Panama vs Mexico
GROUP B (US, November 13-17)
Nov. 13: Canada vs El Salvador; US vs Haiti/Jamaica
Nov. 15: Haiti/Jamaica v Canada; US vs El Salvador
Nov. 17: El Salvador vs Haiti/Jamaica; US vs Canada.
