Mexico routs Trinidad, Cuba qualifies for U-20 QFs.
CONCACAF.COM.GUATEMALA CITY - Taufic Guarch scored three goals and hit the post another time to lead Mexico a 5-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Friday, eliminating the "Young Warriors" and earning Cuba a place in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.
Mexico already had clinched a berth in the knockout round and Friday's rout clinched the Group D title, pitting it against Canada in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
Group D's other berth went to Cuba, which -- by virtue of losing only 3-0 to Mexico - advanced on goal difference over Trinidad. It will play Costa Rica in Tuesday's other quarterfinal.
The four quarterfinal winners will qualify for the U-20 World Cup in Colombia July 29-August 20.
Cuba also qualified for the Pan American Games in Mexico in October as the highest finishing Caribbean team at the CONCACAF U-20 finals. The Caribbean's four other U-20 qualifiers: Suriname, Guadeloupe, Jamaica and Trinidad were eliminated in the first round.
Guarch and Alan Pulido both scored twice in the first half, with Ulises Davila helping to set up the first three.
Trinidad forced Mexican keeper Carlos Lopez into a pair of athletic saves in the 69th and 74th minutes, but rarely mounted any sustained threat.
Mexico jumped ahead in the seventh minute when Davila's short through ball enabled Pulido to get off a low shot that Trinidad keeper Stefan Berkley was able to block with his legs. But the rebound drifted into the middle of the area and Guarch walked in to volley into an open net.
Guarch doubled the lead in the 25th when Davila crossed from the left side, and the Tecos forward bounced a header off the turf, off the right post and into the net.
Pulido, who had one of Mexico's goals in its win over Cuba, scored his first of the game in the 31st. Davila outmuscled Trinidad's Weslie John to create space and slide a ball to the right side of area. Pulido touched it toward goal, shouldering off Akeem Adams and rolling a shot low past Berkley from nine meters.
Pulido increased the lead to 4-0 in the 41st, a goal which tentatively put Cuba in the quarterfinals. Saul Villalobos drove a low cross into the area and Berkley came off his line to defuse the danger of an approaching Guarch. But Berkley was unable to punch away and the ball ended up behind him.
Adams tried to clear it, but only kicked it into the back of Berkley and Pulido pounced on the loose ball.
Mexico continued the onslaught a minute and a half into the second half when Guarch broke into the area and had his shot deflected by Berkley onto the left post.
Guarch completed the scoring in the 49th. Pulido took a throw-in, fought off John and sent a square ball in front of the goal, where Guarch volleyed it with the outside of his right foot.
Mexico is seeking an 11th CONCACAF title and 12th trip to World Cup after failing to qualify in 2009.
TeamsTrinidad & Tobago: - 21.Stefan Berkeley; 5.Akeem Adams, 6.Joevin Jones (Yellow 45), 12.Akil Clarke (Yellow 38), 15.Dwight Ceballo; 4.Sheldon Bateau (capt), 19.Weslie John, 17.Marcus Joseph (Yellow 88), 8.Kenaz Williams (13.Jerren Quashie 46th); 9.Johan Peltier (2.Isaiah Ferguson 71st), 10.Jerrel Britto (7.Shahdon Winchester 42nd).
Video Highlights -
Mexico v Trinidad & TobagoReferee: - José Molina (Honduras).
