The October window of League C of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League wrapped up on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory for Cayman Islands over US Virgin Islands in Group B at the Turman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town, Cayman Islands.

Cayman Islands now sit on four points from three matches, just two points of group leaders Aruba. USVI are on one point through three matches.

The host enjoyed a very positive start, and the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the 17th when Elijah Seymour found the back of the net with a right-footed shot. Seymour received a pass from Zachary Scott and beat USVI goalkeeper Dylan Ramos to give Cayman Islands the advantage.

Cayman Islands were not content with just one goal in the first half and almost tucked away a second right before halftime through Jah Dain Alexander, but Ramos was strong and made a big save to keep his side to within a goal.

They continued pressing forward and they would get that second goal in the 57th when Scott played the role of playmaker again, slipping a pass into Christhofer Nunez, who finished for a 2-0 lead.

USVI would not go quietly, though, and moments after being denied on a chance, Rakeem Joseph expertly finished a header off a corner kick to make it 2-1 in the 84th.

However, that proved a mere consolation as Cayman Islands saw things out in the end, avoiding any further issues in defense to secure the three points.

Aruba and St Martin assumed pole position in their respective groups following victories over Cayman Islands and Bonaire respectively, in League C the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League on Monday.

Cayman Islands vs. Aruba

The first match-up of the day saw Aruba come away with a late 2-1 win over the Cayman Islands in Group B at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town, Cayman Islands.

With the win, Aruba moved to the top the group with three points after one match, while Cayman Islands are third with one point.

Fans could not have asked for a more exciting start with two goals inside the first six minutes of play.

Striking first was Aruba inside the first 90 seconds, as a ball played in from the left wing met the stabbing foot of Rovien Ostiana for a 1-0 lead to the visitors.

The hosts answered right back in the sixth minute, as Christhofer Nunez got loose on the left edge of the area and from the slimmest of angles, fired in a shot that deflected off the leg of Aruba GK Matthew Lentink and into goal to make it 1-1.

Some heroic defending from the Cayman Islands in the 58th with a ball cleared off the goal-line kept the draw intact, but Aruba would land the decisive goal 21 minutes later in the 79th through Darryl Baly, who got low to steer home a header off a corner kick for the 2-1 Aruba victory.

Saint Martin vs. Bonaire

The second game of the day in League C was decided on some late fireworks, with Saint Martin rallying to edge Bonaire 2-1 in Group A action at the SKNFA Technical Centre in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

With the result, Saint Martin now sit firmly atop the group with six points through two matches, while Bonaire are still with no points after one match.

An even first half in which neither side were able to break through gave way to a more open second stanza, but the first goal would not arrive until the 67th.

The man to do it was Sheehander Martinus, who was at the right place at the right time, turning in a rebound after back-to-back shots off a free kick for a 1-0 Bonaire lead.

Saint Martin quickly got back on level terms though, thanks to Axel Raga, who scored his fifth goal of this CNL in the 75th.

Keelan Lebon’s shot from distance took a deflection off a Bonaire defender and fell right to Raga at the far post, making for an easy stroke into net for Raga.

The momentum was now with Saint Martin, and they made the most of it, getting the winning goal in the 87th, after an own goal from Bonaire’s Jurven Koffy when a cross deflected off his leg and into net.