Curacao retake lead in World Cup qualifying group with 7-0 romp
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Curacao retook the lead in Group B of the Concacaf final round qualifying after hammering last placed Bermuda 7-0 in their second leg game played at the National Sports Centre in Devonshire on Thursday.
Jordi Paulina came off the bench at the start of the second half to score a brace as Curacao improved to 11 points, one more than Jamaica who they face in a winner-take-all game next Tuesday in Kingston.
A 1-1 draw against Jamaica in Port of Spain saw Trinidad’s quest fall short as they are on six points and with one game to go cannot finish in the top two spots.
Curacao had led the tables in the first round after beating Jamaica 2-0 but had slipped into second place after being held 2-2 by Trinidad while Jamaica had won both games in the November window.
After leading 2-0 at half time on Thursday with goals from Leandro Bacuna and Juninho Bacuna, Curacao, who had won the first round game 3-2 at home, added five more against the hapless Bermudans in the second half.
Paulina scored from the penalty spot in the 48th minute to make the score 3-0 and Sontje Hansen added a fourth in the 59th minute before Paulina completed his brace in the 63rd minute.
Ar’jany Martha added a sixth goal in the 82nd minute before Roshon van Eijma scored in time.
— Paul A Reid
