The 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup moves into the knockout stage this weekend, when the winner takes all, the loser packs his bags and the pre-tournament favourites stretch themselves to ensure they make it to the last four.
But while the CONCACAF 2021 betting odds back Mexico and the USA to battle it out for the title there are no easy games, and the quarter finals have thrown up some cracking fixtures. We’ll be covering the action here at SBOTOP and keeping you up to date with all the latest CONCACAF 2021 updates and results; but in the meantime, let’s take a look at the first two-quarter finals and pick some winners.
Mexico vs Honduras
Gerardo Martino’s Mexico worked their way through the group stages in a functional rather than swashbuckling manner, drawing with Trinidad, dispatching Guatemala and then narrowly beating their closest rivals El Salvador. But it was the manner of the victory over El Salvador which may concern their fans as, having dominated the first half, El Tri struggled to get out of second gear and spent much of the second half on the back foot. Martino’s men were a little lucky with their goal too, when Luis Rodriguez’ shot took a wicked deflection to beat the El Salvador keeper.
Gabriel Funes Mori has two goals and has looked sharp up front so he’ll be hoping for better service when Mexico take on Los Catachros.
Honduras made a great start to the tournament with back to back victories over Grenada and Panama but then came a cropper against an in-form Qatar side, and head coach Fabian Coito will be looking for his team to put in a more solid performance to frustrate El Tri. He has a threat up front in the shape of Romell Quioto, who has three goals from three games and ran the Grenada defence ragged.
History
These two sides have met 17 times since 2003 in a well contested series of games, with Mexico winning seven, Honduras winning five and their have been five draws.
In terms of recent form El Tri are the stronger, with four wins and a draw from six games, while Honduras have won three drawn one and lost two.
The two sides drew 0-0 in a pre-tournament friendly while in the last competitive meeting Honduras came out on top with a 3-2 victory in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Betting tip – Mexico -1.00 @ 1.81 
Mexico are at 1.46 to win, with the draw at 3.78 and Honduras out at 5.80, and if El Tri can find third or fourth gear then I can see them cruising into the final four, with 2-0 the most likely score-line at odds of 5.60.
Qatar vs El Salvador
As hosts of the 2022 World Cup Qatar’s world profile in football has sky rocketed over the past few years and their performances on the pitch have improved too, with eight wins already under their belts in 2021, most impressively beating 2018 World Cup finalist Croatia in a friendly in June. They meet El Salvador at the State Farm Stadium on Saturday and head coach Felix Sanchez will be looking for more of the same.
Qatar were impressive in beating Honduras 2-0 to top Group D as wing back Homan Ahmed scored one of the best goals of the tournament so far when he hammered a shot from a tight angle into the roof of the net. Strikers Ali Almoez and Akram Afif have scored twice each so far, and they will severely test El Salvador keeper Mario Gonzalez.
El Salvador head coach Hugo Perez has led his team to a run of good results in 2021, with FC Tulsa striker Joaquin Rivas looking lively up front, but they have stuttered slightly in recent weeks.
History
Qatar are unbeaten in ten games and have won five of the last six, while El Salvador have won three from six, drawing one and losing the other two, one to Mexico and the other defeat was when they were beaten by Qatar 1-0 in a friendly at the beginning of the month.
Betting Tip – Over 2.00 goals @ 2.06
Qatar is at 1.83 to win this game with the draw at 3.16 and El Salvador at 3.83 and I believe the 2022 Word Cup hosts have too much quality and momentum for their opponents; but I think the value lies in them scoring freely, as they have so far.
The remaining quarter-final matches feature Costa Rica vs Canada and the mouth-watering prospect of USA vs Jamaica. The Stars and Stripes will try to impose themselves but the Reggae Boyz are stinging following a shock defeat to Costa Rica and will be up for the fight.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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