The second set of matches conclude in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday evening when the middle games of Group D are played out in Houston. At the end of play we will have a clearer picture who will go into the last eight.
This group became particularly interesting after the opening set of games when the overwhelming favourites for it in Canada conceded a late equaliser to leave all teams still comfortably in contention to qualify.
Cuba vs Guadeloupe (00.30 – Viaplay Sports 1)
The opening match of what could be a pivotal evening in the tournament sees the two lower ranked teams in Group D meeting when Cuba take on Guadeloupe with the latter well placed to make it through to the knockout stage.
They head to Houston off the back of getting a late equaliser against Canada in their opening match. Even had they lost that game 2-1 they would probably have been confident of their chances of progressing when you consider they had got their hardest game out of the way. Even though it was the tougher match they still took the game to Canada and that bodes well for them here. Cuba were beaten quite tamely in their opening match and with Canada to come they will know they really have to win here to have any chance of progressing. That might force the hands of the Caribbean men here and lead us to an open and entertaining game but I’m just not sure Cuba have it in them. My instinct is that Guadeloupe will win this but they probably look about the right price to do it.
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Guatemala vs Canada (02.30 – Viaplay Sports 1)
The second match of the night is very much the most important one from here on in as the only winners in the first set of games, Guatemala, look to secure their spot in the last eight at the first opportunity when they host the giants of Canada.
Canada were not at their best in the opening match and paid the price for not putting Guadeloupe away when they conceded a late equaliser to give them a little bit of extra work to do if they are going to get out of this group. They will still be expected to do it and a couple of wins will be more than enough but Guatemala were able to see off Cuba in their first game and now they can dictate their own destiny. Were they to avoid defeat here then they would have a foot in the quarter final but they will still have a chance of making it through even if they are beaten here. The big issue for Guatemala was the injury sustained by Rubio Rubin early in their opening match and while they got the job done in his absence against Cuba, they didn’t look anything like as convincing as I would have expected and now they go significantly up in class. I expect this makeshift Canada squad to come on for the run and on Canada day they will be eager to give their fans back home plenty to cheer about. With the Rubin injury hampering Guatemala I think Canada will have way too much here.
Tips
Back Canada (-1AH) to beat Guatemala for a 3/10 stake at 1.90 with Bet365
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