Bahamas advances past Turks and Caicos

Bahamas' Michael Bethel takes on two defenders.

Nassau, BAHAMAS- With the opening round of FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifying completed, the Bahamas now shifts its attention to the second round and toward readying themselves for an opponent yet to be determined.
The Bahamas joined the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic in the first group stage of CONCACAF bracket, after each of the countries won to complete aggregate victories in the preliminary round.
The Bahamas got a 10-0 aggregate win over Turks & Caicos Islands after the 6-0 victory at the Roscow Davies soccer field on Saturday (See full story at top of page).
The three teams will advance to the World Cup qualifying draw on July 30 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where they will be drawn into one of six, four-team groups.
The six group winners will join the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Cuba in the semifinal round of qualifying. There they will be divided into three, four-team groups from which two in each group will qualify for the final round.
National team head coach Kevin Davies said the team will continue its training regimen and prepare accordingly.
"If we didn't have a chance we wouldn't be on the field. As long as we are on the field, we have a chance, we just have to continue to work hard and see where it takes us," he said. "We do not know who we will face yet. All we can do is continue to work hard and try to improve on some of the things that may be lacking still."
Heading into World Cup qualification, the Bahamas was ranked 31st in the region, while Turks and Caicos was ranked 30th.
Teams ranked 26-35, which also includes Belize, Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands, St Lucia, Aruba, US Virgin Islands and Montserrat, all competed in the first round.
Teams ranked 7-25 received a bye to the second round while the top six teams in CONCACAF - the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Cuba - all received a bye to round three.
CONCACAF will have three direct qualifiers for the finals tournament.
The preliminary round will feature teams ranked 26-35 and would play-off to reduce the number of entrants to 30.
The first round will featured six groups of four teams. This round would include the five qualifiers from the preliminary round plus teams ranked 7-25. The top team in each group would advance to the next stage.
The semifinal round includes three groups of teams. Teams ranked 1-6 would face off against the six group winners from the previous round.
The top two in each group would advance.
The final round will have the top two teams in each group from the semifinal round compete in one group of six.
The top three teams would advance to the World Cup, while the 4th place team would advance to an intercontinental playoff.