CONCACAF qualifiers preview

Jamaica out for revenge; U.S. out to extend lead in weekend matches

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Upstarts Guatemala and Panama face crunch matches against more experienced CONCACAF opponents on Saturday as they continue their quest to qualify for a first World Cup.

Escape artists United States will be hoping to avoid any more scares away to El Salvador and Mexico will look forward to further shooting practice as they visit St Vincent and the Grenadines, who they beat 7-0 at home on Wednesday.

Guatemala, who lead Group B with seven points from three games in the second stage of the CONCACAF qualifiers, take an 11-match unbeaten run to San Jose where they face Costa Rica on an artificial pitch in the Saprissa stadium known as the Monster's Cave.

Costa Rica, relatively seasoned campaigners after reaching the 1990 and 2002 World Cups, will be out to avenge last month's 2-1 defeat in Guatemala City.

Costa Rica is third with three points and badly need a win to keep alive their hopes of a top-two finish and a place in the final stage of the qualifiers next year.

"I'm not the savior, everyone is important," said Spain-based striker Paulo Wanchope. "We've got the talent and capacity to beat Guatemala."

Guatemala is two points ahead of Honduras who should beat bottom side Canada in San Pedro Sula the same day.

Jamaica will also be out for revenge away to Panama in Group A after losing 2-1 at home to the Central Americans in their usually impregnable Kingston stadium known as the Office.

Both teams have four points from three games.

KEY MATCH

Jamaica, managed by Brazil's 1990 World Cup coach Sebastiao Lazaroni and who reached the 1998 World Cup in France under his compatriot Rene Simoes, have since bounced back with a 3-0 win in El Salvador.

"It's a key match and we're aware of our responsibility," said Panama's Moldova-based striker Alberto Blanco, who returns after a one-match suspension.

United States lead the group with five points, although Bruce Arena's team needed last-gasp goals to draw games away to Jamaica and Panama.

They will hope for a more comfortable ride on at San Salvador's Cuscutlan stadium on Saturday against opponents playing their first game under new coach Armando Contreras. He replaced Juan Paredes, fired after the Jamaica debacle.

Group C is the most clearcut with Mexico and Trinidad expected to progress easily at the expense of Caribbean sides St Vincent and St Kitts and Nevis.

Mexico have scored 28 goals in four qualifiers -- all against Caribbean opposition -- and expect more of the same as they visit the Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown for the return match against St Vincent.

Trinidad, level with Mexico on six points, host St Kitts, who are pointless after two games but still determined to pull off a shock.

"We know that it's do or die time for us and we need to ensure that we are at our best," St Kitts coach Lenny Lake said.

"We have every intention of spoiling T&T's party on Sunday."

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