WHEN JAMAICA face Haiti today they will be doing so in the hope of securing one of 12 places in the semi-final round in the CONCACAF Zone World Cup qualifiers.
If Jamaica move on today they would have joined Canada, the first team to advance following an 8-0 aggregate win over Belize.
As of last night two more teams, St. Kitts/Nevis and Honduras could have advanced at the expense of Barbados and the Netherland Antilles.
EASIEST WAY
The easiest way for Jamaica to advance is for them not to concede a goal. Once they do that then they should be on their way. Not conceding a goal could mean that both teams end 0-0 on the day which would mean a 1-1 aggregate scoreline. This would favour Jamaica as they would advance on the away goal rule having scored in the first leg encounter.
If at the end of regulation play both teams end 1-1, the game will go into extra time of 15 minutes each half to determine the winner by the golden goal route. If that fails to separate the teams then penalties will be used to determine the winner.
If during regulation time the teams end up being locked 2-2 or any score higher Haiti would advance by virtue of having scored more away goals. Jamaica, of course, can save themselves the trauma by just winning outright by whatever margin they choose.
On the other hand if Haiti were to win the game then the process would be as clear as day.
Once the 12 teams are in the semi-final round they will be divided into three groups of four. Each team will meet twice. In this stage action runs from August 18 to November 17. From that the top two nations advance to the group of six or the finals of the CONCACAF zone. In this round games run from February 2005 to October.
The top three teams will automatically qualify for the World Cup with the fourth place team playing off with a team from Asia for a World Cup spot.
Nodley Wright
