International Round Up

Beginning with the road the the USA with the Oceania (OFC) World Cup Qualifying, Prescot Cables' Scott Wara was involved with Fiji's 2 draws to secure a top 2 finish to qualify to the final stage with a potential first apperance at the biggest stage in World Football 2 wins away,

A 3-3 draw against apua New Guinea (playing 86 minutes) followed by a 1-1 draw vs New Caledonia with Wara playing the full match saw them finish 2nd in the Group. 

Fiji however will have to beat New Zealand in March in the final stage to before a final against either New Caledonia or Tahiti to book their place at the World Cup Finals (the first time the OFC will receive an automatic berth), with a spot in the intercontiental playoffs for the losing finalists should they get past the All Whites.

Over in the Americas, the CONCACAF Nations League came to a conclusion with League B finishing off, which offers Qualification to the Gold Cup contest in the Summer.

Rugby's Roger Lee was active in Bermuda's run to the Gold Cup Playoffs. Though playing 76 mintues in the heavy 6-1 defeat to Full Time Dominican Republic (which he won 62% of his duels) which saw the victors qualify for Division A, a 10 minute performance in the 2-1 win v Antigua and Barbuda saw them secure one of the best Two runners up spots to see Lee potentially off the USA in June should they overcome the tough task of Honduras in March.

It was a mixed bag for Josh Solomon-Davies with Saint Lucia after their double header against Saint Martin, Soloman. With a  30 minute performance off the bench which helped bring the Piton back to a 2-1 win, with his influcece showing important in the comeback with only 1 missed pass all match and involved with the build up to both goals . Sadly the win ended up in vain as Saint Martin won the return match 4-0 (Solomon- Davies was involved all evening) meaning St Lucia finished 2nd in League B, Group B. Though the missed out on promotion by 4pts to League A, the defeat meant they missed out on a playoff for the Gold Cup Playoffs for the best runners up. 

For Sporting Khalsa's Isai Marsella it was a windoew to forget as two defeats for Aruba meant relegation from Group D. A heavy 5-1 defeat to Puerto Rico in the opening game sealed their fate before rounding up the window with a 1-0 loss to Sint Maarten meant they finished the group losing all 6 matches. It was not a bad effort from Marselai who recorded a 0.16 xG (expected Goals) in the Puerto Rico match, and successful in every forward play with the ball in the second match, the Marseli featuring in every minute during both matches

The International Period still goes on into December however as Loughborough Student's Anthony Pinto has been called up to represent Hong Kong in the Preliminary Round of the EAFF Regional Tournaments during December, the equivlent of the old Home Nations Tournament. Hong Kong will face 5 other sides, with the winners qualifying to the finals against Japan,South Korea and China next Summer. 

Stats where included courtesy of Wyscout