MIAMI. - The penultimate window of FIFA World Cup qualification in the Concacaf region is done and dusted, as it left plenty to think about before the conclusion of qualifying in late March.

Here is a look back at five of the best moments from the January-February WCQ window.

Historic Canada busts slumps on way to nine points

Heading into this trio of matches, the Canada men’s national team hadn’t won in Honduras since 1985, hadn’t beaten the U.S. in World Cup qualification since 1980 and hadn’t won in El Salvador since 1996.

Now, the counter has been reset to say 2022 on each of the ‘last victory’ stat lines after three wins, all by a 2-0 score line. Those victories extended Head Coach John Herdman’s squad’s winning streak to six matches in WCQ and puts Canada on the verge of going to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Jonathan David had a goal in each victory in Central America, matching teammate Cyle Larin with five goals in the Third Round to lead the race for top scorer. Larin scored in win over the U.S. at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

Yet, it’s Canada’s defense, anchored by GK Milan Borjan and DF Steven Vitoria, which perhaps was the biggest key to the Reds’ historic start to 2022, denying all three teams and closing the window with a 270-minute clean sheet across all three games.

El Salvador gets legendary first win in Honduras

El Salvador’s 2-0 victory against Honduras was its first-ever victory in a World Cup qualification match on Honduran soil.

Not only that, but Nelson Bonilla’s opener was the first-ever goal La Selecta scored in Honduras in a WCQ. The team followed it up with another, with Darwin Ceren capping the victory at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula with a stoppage-time score.

The teams had met in Honduras eight times previously in qualification, dating back to a 1-0 Honduras win in Tegucigalpa in 1969 when Leonard Wells scored the winner ahead of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

Now it’s Bonilla and Ceren who have their names in the record books, the first Salvadorans to be able to say they scored in a World Cup qualification match in the country next door.



Navas shines for Costa Rica

Three matches, zero goals. Teams in the region have seen Keylor Navas for long enough that they know it may be a long day when they see the former Concacaf Goalkeeper of the Year warming up between the sticks. He reinforced that belief this window with a trio of clean sheets, as Costa Rica put itself firmly in the hunt for the World Cup place with an undefeated window.

Navas opened the window making a save on Panama, as Costa Rica won 1-0 against a direct rival in a home victory at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose.

He followed up that showing with another clean sheet three days later, denying one shot on target from Mexico and helping Costa Rica leave the Estadio Azteca with a point in a scoreless draw.

He closed out the window by making four saves against Jamaica in a Costa Rica win by the narrowest of margins, 1-0.

Now, Costa Rica needs to outperform Panama in the final there matches to have a chance to keep its World Cup streak alive. The Ticos will feel confident knowing that Navas is at the back.



McKennie magic returns for U.S.

The United States protected home turf this window, beating El Salvador 1-0 in Columbus, Ohio and Honduras 3-0 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The Honduras win came on a cold night that saw Weston McKennie come through for the U.S. without injured midfield teammate Tyler Adams. The 23-year-old Texas native headed in an opening goal from a Kellyn Acosta set piece that took the pressure off the U.S. in a must-win match.

He celebrated with his trademark wand-waving celebration. Yet, the goal wasn’t the only moment of magic for McKennie in the window. He was the standout player for the North Americans over the three games, showing his range as a midfield ball-winner, a sharp passer and an attacking weapon with his well-timed runs into the box.



March primed for thrilling finale

One of the best things about the next-to-last window is how well it sets up for a dramatic close. There are three matchdays remaining in Concacaf World Cup qualification with games slated for March 24, March 27 and March 30.

The stakes will be high from the moment the referees blow their whistles on Matchday 12, with Costa Rica hosting Canada hoping to jump into the playoff position, but Canada looking to assure its spot in Qatar. Elsewhere, Mexico will host its rival, the United States, with each team aiming to shore up its place in the automatic qualification spots.

There will no doubt be other twists and turns from there, with this competition giving us plenty of memorable moments.