Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Kevin Molino. (Photo : Getty Images)
Group C leaders Trinidad and Tobago (3-0-1, 10 points) will clash with dark horse squad Guatemala (2-2-0, 6 points) in a matchday 5 affair in the fourth round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF qualifiers. The game will be held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the Trinidadian capital city of Port of Spain on Sep. 2, Friday.
Trinidad and Tobago are still undefeated after four matchdays in the tournament with three wins and a draw. Team USA managed to force them to a goalless tie also at their home field during matchday 2.
Head coach Stephen Hart's side had defeated Guatemala, 2-1, during their first meeting at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City in November of last year to open the tournament.
Their last matchday ended in a lopsided 6-0 win over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines again at their home stadium in Port of Spain to enter this match against Los Chapines with a lot of momentum, the Trinidad Express reported.
Sheldon Bateau, Joevin Jones, Kenwyne Jones, and Kevin Molino scored a goal each at the 36th, 49th, 60th, and 66th respectively before substitute striker Trevin Caesar delivered a brace to help pull off the Soca Warriors' six-goal haul in the contest.
Meanwhile, Guatemala had struggled to find consistency in their form during the fourth round of qualifiers with two wins and two losses after four matchdays.
Their last game was a 0-4 crushing in the hands of the United States at the Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio after they defeated USMNT, 2-0, at their home field of Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City during the previous matchday, as per SB Nation.
La Azul y Blanco was held scoreless at that time after the team pulled off a clean sheet against the Stars and Stripes, indicating that head coach Walter Claverí's boys are far from their steady form in these qualifying matches.
If they cannot pull off a win against the Soca Warriors, then Guatemala will have one foot in the exit door of the competitions.
The predicted result is a 3-1 victory for Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Phillip; Abu Bakr, Cyrus, Jones, David; Hyland, Hector, Molino; Winchester, Jones, Caesar
Guatemala starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Jerez; Mejia, Lalin, Morales, Hernandez; Pappa, Contreras, Marquez, Aparicio; Ruiz, Tinoco
