USA clinches spot in 2014 World Cup in Brazil

The U.S. Men’s’ National Soccer Team clinched a spot in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a 2-0 win over Mexico in Columbus, Ohio on September 10. It will be the seventh consecutive World Cup

for the Americans and the victory came courtesy of goals by Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson. The Americans took the lead through Johnson in the 49th minute when he headed in a Donovan corner kick and Donovan scored the insurance goal in the 78th minute. Clint Dempsey should have made it 3-0, but shot wide on a penalty kick in the 93rd minute.

The U.S. is currently in first place in the CONCACAF qualifying group with a record of 5-2-1. Their 16 points are one more than second-place Costa Rica, who also clinched a berth at next year’s World Cup with a 1-1 tie against Jamaica. There are still two qualifying matches remaining, but the top three teams are guaranteed a place in the 32-team tournament and the Americans can’t finish any worse than third. Things don’t look too good for Mexico though as they’re presently in fifth place. The fourth place team in the CONCACAF group will meet New Zealand in a two-game playoff series with the winner heading to Brazil next June.

Nonito Donaire knocks former world champ Jorge Arce into retirement with third-round KO

Nonito Donaire, also known as the Filipino Flash, successfully defended his WBO Super Bantamweight Championship at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Dec. 15 with a third-round knockout over veteran Mexican and former world champion Jorge Arce. Donaire raised his record to 31-1 with 20 Kos with the victory while Arce’s record fell to 61-7-2 with 46 Kos. Arce also announced his retirement after the bout.

Arce said before the fight that he would retire if he lost and then the 33-year-old said after the KO that he’s a man of his word and he won’t box again. He started the bout way too cautiously in the first round and paid for it in the second stanza when Donaire dropped him with a right hand. Arce figured he might as well go out swinging if this was to be his last fight and started to throw punches in the third round. He connected to Donaire’s body with a couple of good shots, but then paid for it soon after.

Donaire nailed the challenger with a combination to the head and he went down. Arce made it up to his feet on shaky legs and a tremendous left hook sent him to the canvas again. The referee Laurence Cole called the fight off at the 2:59 mark of the round while Arce was still flat on his back. After the bout Donaire said he felt strong and his left hook was working for him. He added that Arce wasn’t afraid to throw punches and open up in the third round and that’s what gave him the opportunity to catch him.

The 30-year-old champion has one of the longest undefeated streaks going in boxing as he hasn’t lost a bout in over 11 years. Some fans saw Donaire’s win as a bit of revenge for last week’s Juan Manuel Marquez knockout over Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round. Marquez, like Arce, hails from Mexico while Pacquiao and Donaire are from the Philippines. There’s now a huge rivalry between Mexican and Filipino boxers which fans enjoy. Donaire said he respects Mexico, but hoped his win made the Philippines proud of him.