Saint Kitts and Nevis and Belize place one foot in the Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims as both secured 2-1 wins over Cuba and French Guiana, respectively, in the opening leg of their Concacaf Nations League Play-In on Thursday.
Romaine Sawyers (8th) and Andre Burley (48th) were the scorers for Saint Kitts and Nevis, while Luis Paradela (40th) pulled one back for Cuba at the SKNFA Technical Center in Basseterre.
Meanwhile, at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize through goals from Carlos Bernardez (67th) and Eugene Martinez (75th) also secured an advantage heading into return leg action on Tuesday. Thomas Torvic (90+3) got French Guiana’s goal.
The winning teams on aggregate will advance to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims.
Saint Kitts and Nevis vs. Cuba
Sawyers opened the scoring for Saint Kitts and Nevis with a right-footed strike inside the penalty area after latching on to a final pass from Omari Sterling-James.
However, Paradela pulled Cuba level with a tidy finish from Orlando Calvo’s perfectly weighted ball into the area.
Cuba’s celebrations were short-lived as Burley restored the “Sugar Boyz” lead when he expertly headed home from Sterling-James’ weighted freekick.
Cuba will host Saint Kitts and Nevis in the second leg on Monday at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba.
Belize vs. French Guiana
After playing out a goalless first half, Bernardez broke the deadlock for Belize from a penalty spot much to the delight of home crowd.
Martinez extended the lead when he applied the finishing touch to Jordy Polanco’s decent corner kick.
Down but not out, Torvic ensured French Guiana remained in striking distance as he headed home from Thomas Vancaeyezeele’s assist.
French Guiana and Belize will meet for the second leg on Tuesday at Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo, Suriname.
Honduras secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over French Guiana in a thrilling encounter at the Stade Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama in Remire-Montjoly, French Guiana, as they climbed to second place in Group B of the CONCACAF Nations League.
The match got off to a lively start with Honduras nearly taking an early lead in the 8th minute. Edwin Rodríguez found himself with a great chance inside the box, but his volley was met by an impressive save from French Guiana goalkeeper Donovan Leon. The hosts responded seven minutes later when Ansley Panelle unleashed a powerful long-range strike, but Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar was equal to the task, keeping the scoreline level.
As the first half wore on, Honduras began to impose themselves on the game. Their persistence paid off just before halftime when Anthony Lozano gave Los Catrachos the lead in the 45th+1 minute. Lozano calmly finished from the center of the box after a well-placed assist from Rigoberto Rivas, giving the visitors a crucial advantage heading into the break.
French Guiana, however, came out strong in the second half and found an equalizer in the 56th minute. Raphaël Galas latched onto a loose ball inside the box and fired home to restore parity for the home side, sending the local fans into a frenzy.
But Honduras was quick to respond, regaining the lead in the 67th minute through Deybi Flores, who rose high to head in a corner delivery, putting the visitors back in control. Just seven minutes later, they extended their lead when Jorge Benguché finished across goal after a perfect through ball from Jorge Álvarez, giving Honduras a comfortable 3-1 cushion.
Despite the deficit, French Guiana refused to give up. In stoppage time, Jules Haabo scored a late consolation goal in the 90th+4 minute, but it wasn't enough to prevent Honduras from claiming all three points with a 3-2 final scoreline.
The win propels Honduras into second place in Group B of the CONCACAF Nations League, as they continue their pursuit of qualification to the next stage.
Trinidad and Tobago’s interim head coach Derek King and captain Aubrey David were left ruing the Soca Warriors’s sub-par performances in the September window, which has their Concacaf Nations League, League A survival in the balance.
The Soca Warriors, who lost their opening contest 0-4 away to Honduras, were heavily favoured to take three points off French Guiana in the following encounter at home, but they were instead held to a goalless stalemate.
This was much to the disappointment of King, David, and the many spectators that flocked the Dwight Yorke Stadium, as that result left the Twin Island Republic sitting at the foot of Group B on a point. Jamaica (four points), Nicaragua (four points), Honduras (three points), Cuba (two points), and French Guiana (one point) complete the group.
The Soca Warriors now face a must-win scenario in their next two fixtures against Cuba on October 10 and 14 to have a slim chance at making the top two for a quarterfinal berth, but more importantly to avoid relegation to League B.
Having made the quarterfinal in the previous edition of the Concacaf Nations League, David believes there is a need for individual and collective introspection as they need to raise the standard of their game.
"It was a sad result for us. It's a draw, but it feels like a loss for us because three points would have put us in a good position in the group once again. Unfortunately, we didn't get going. We need to reset again because we have two important games coming up,” David said as he reflected on the outcome of their contest against French Guiana.
"I think we as a team have to look at ourselves in the mirror and go back to the drawing board and look at the things that brought us success in the last campaign. I think we need to be humble and have that hunger to get good results,” he added.
Alvin Jones echoed similar sentiments.
"I think each and everyone has to look in the mirror and decide what they want—whether we want to play big football or we just want to compete. I think we have a lot of work to do mentally and physically. Each and every player,” he noted.
Meanwhile, King, who was appointed ahead of the tournament following the dismissal of Angus Eve, felt his team could have done more to secure the three points against French Guiana.
"I think the performance was a bit disappointing. We didn't get three points. We went out there, and we analysed the team. Our ball movement was a little slow, but we still created chances. I think to take us to the next level, we need to raise our intensity, and our ball speed has to be much better to compete with the top teams in Concacaf,” King declared.
Though it is left to be seen if he will still be on the sidelines for the Cuba encounters next month, King backed the players to make the necessary adjustments to secure the desired result.
"The players we selected, I thought it was the best mix for these two games...the important thing is to look ahead as a team. We saw some good things (against French Guiana), so we have to sit as a staff and analyse those two games and continue building from this,” King stated.
Jamaica claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Honduras on Tuesday night, propelling them to the top of Group B in League A of the 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League as the September match window concluded. The win secured Jamaica’s position as the group leader, while Nicaragua now sits in second place after their draw against Cuba.
In a tightly contested match at Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, the Reggae Boyz opened the scoring early in the second half when Honduras’ Denil Maldonado inadvertently scored an own goal in the 49th minute after Norman Campbell delivered a dangerous ball into the box.
However, Honduras quickly responded with an equalizer in the 50th minute, as David Ruiz finished from close range. Despite the quick turnaround, Jamaica continued to apply pressure, and in the 76th minute, Michael Antonio scored the match-winning goal from the penalty spot.
The victory puts Jamaica in first place with four points from two matches, giving them the edge in the group standings. Honduras, with one point, drops to third in the group, just one point off the top.
Elsewhere in the group, Cuba and Nicaragua played to a dramatic 1-1 draw at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba. After dominating much of the first half, Cuba took the lead in the 42nd minute through a penalty converted by Karel Espino. The hosts came close to extending their lead in stoppage time, but Karel Pérez’s strike narrowly missed the far post.
Nicaragua, however, found a late equalizer in the 90th+7 minute, with Widman Talavera salvaging a point for his team. The result keeps Nicaragua level with Jamaica on four points but in second place due to tiebreakers. Cuba, with two points from consecutive draws, sits in third place.
In the final Group B matchup of the evening, Trinidad and Tobago and French Guiana played to a scoreless draw at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago. Both teams created chances throughout the game, with Loïc Ball forcing a save from Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Denzil Smith in the 27th minute, while Daniel Phillips hit the woodwork with a long-range strike in the 39th minute for the hosts.
Despite the opportunities, neither team managed to score, with both goalkeepers recording clean sheets. The result gave French Guiana their second point of the campaign, while Trinidad and Tobago secured their first point.
As the September match window concluded, Jamaica leads Group B, with Nicaragua close behind in second place. Honduras, Cuba, French Guiana, and Trinidad and Tobago round out the group, as all teams look to improve their standings in the next round of matches.
Trinidad and Tobago started life without Angus Eve on a losing note as they were thumped 4-0 by Honduras in their opening Concacaf Nations League Group B League A contest in Tegucigalpa on Friday.
The result dealt and early blow to the Soca Warriors and interim head coach Derek King, as they are the group’s early cellar dwellers.
Honduras, with the win, assume pole position on three points, same as Nicaragua, who edged French Guiana 1-0, while Jamaica and Cuba both have a point from their goalless stalemate. Only the top two teams from the group will progress to the quarterfinals, while the bottom-placed team will be relegated to League B.
The tournament also determines which national teams qualify for the next edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Honduras vs. Trinidad and Tobago
After struggling to break down Trinidad and Tobago’s defence early, Honduras eventually found the go-ahead goal when Alexander Lopez drove in a right-footer from outside the box.
Kevin Arriaga also showed his class with a well-struck right-footer in the 45+2 minute to put Honduras 2-0 up at the break.
Try as they did, Trinidad and Tobago had no response to Honduras in a hostile environment and soon found themselves further behind in the 54th minute. This, as Edwin Rodriguez was allowed too much space deep inside the 18-yard box to fire home from Luis Palma’s pass.
The win was then capped by David Ruiz, who slotted home in the 86th minute.
French Guiana vs. Nicaragua
The Central Americans extended their unbeaten run in the Concacaf Nations League to 13 matches by taking three points off host French Guiana at Stade Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama.
Both teams gave as good as they got in the attacking third, but it was Nicaragua that got the all-important strike through Widman Talavera in the 90+5 minute to secure the three points.
Group B action will resume on Tuesday, starting with Cuba facing Nicaragua, while Trinidad and Tobago will host French Guiana, and Jamaica will visit Honduras to close out the day.
Jamaica’s young Reggae Boyz capped off a phenomenal showing at the Tier 1 CFU Boys' U14 Challenger Series with a dominant 7-1 victory over French Guiana in the final on Sunday at the Dwight Yorke Stadium.
Carlondo Morris and Kelvin Brown were the stars of the day for the Jamaicans with a hat trick and a brace, respectively.
French Guiana went ahead in the 21st minute through a looping shot from Matheo Francois before Brown equalized in the second half.
Morris then gave the Jamaicans their first lead of the day in the 52nd minute.
In the blink of an eye, the lead swelled to 5-1 through goals from Brown (54’) and a brace from Morris (58’, 61’) to complete his hat trick.
Second-half substitutes Samuel Taylor and Jaedan Brown-Hanniford notched goals to complete the 7-1 win for Jamaica.
In their six games in the tournament, Jamaica went unbeaten scoring 25 goals and conceding just two.
Jamaica also dominated the individual awards with Marcodean Spence copping the best goalkeeper award, Brown for best forward, and Davion Clarke for Most Valuable Player.
Meanwhile, Barbados took the Tier 2 title, defeating Bermuda 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Jamaica’s young Reggae Boyz and French Guiana will contest the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Boys’ Under-14 Tier I final, following contrasting 3-1 and 4-3 semi-final victories over Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago at the Dwight Yorke Stadium on Friday.
Kelvin DJ Brown with a brace in the 52nd and 70+2, and one from Kyle Hussey (60th) got the job done for the young Reggae Boyz, who had to come from behind after Wilfredo Reyes Rivera (35th) sent Puerto Rico in front.
For the first time since the start of the tournament, which saw games played across 70 minutes, the young Reggae Boyz struggled to find rhythm as Puerto Rico enjoyed the better of play in the first half.
Trinidad and Tobago and French Guiana in action.
Puerto Rico displayed excellent combination plays in the middle of the park, leaving Jamaica’s Davion Clarke and Kenrick Brown to work extra hard. They eventually broke the deadlock when Wilfredo Reyes Rivera converted from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time to put Puerto Rico 1-0 up at the break.
Jamaica came out more spirited on the resumption and pulled level through Brown’s firm header, which gave Puerto Rico’s goalkeeper Martin Perez Colon no chance at a save.
Hussey then pushed the Jamaicans ahead when he fired home from deep inside the 18-yard box on the hour mark.
Brown then capped the win for the young Reggae Boyz when he again headed home in time added.
Barbados versus Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Jamaicans will take an unbeaten record into Sunday’s final against French Guiana, who edged host Trinidad and Tobago in a thrilling encounter.
Matheo Francois (9th), Tyler Hartino (13th), Enzo Cherica (19th), and Guezo Atoukou (32nd) were on target for French Guiana, who dominated proceedings in the first half.
However, Trinidad and Tobago showed grit and fight with Jeremai Nanton (11th), Adasa Richardson (59th), and Jahmiah Gibbes (70th) getting on the scoresheet, but it wasn’t enough at the end.
Sunday’s final is scheduled for 6:30 pm at Dwight Yorke Stadium.
Bermuda versus Anguilla.
Meanwhile, Bermuda and Barbados will also contest the Tier II final on Sunday, after they registered 6-0 and 3-0 wins over Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands, respectively.
Jeon Wolfe scored a hat-trick, and Z-Ani Jennings added a brace, while Chaz Edmead got the other for Bermuda in their lopsided encounter.
Barbados also showed class in their win courtesy of goals from Amari Small, Trey Baker, and Maleek Peters.
French Guiana and Guyana will contest League A in the next Concacaf Nations League edition, as both secured promotion at the end of League B action on Tuesday.
French Guiana vs. Bermuda
French Guiana defeated Bermuda 3-0, at the Pierre-Aliker Stadium in Fort-de-France, Martinique, to secure top spot in Group C.
Marvin Golitin, in goal for French Guiana, intercepted a free kick service in the 17th minute to deter any positive momentum from the visitors.
French Guiana’s Albert Ajaiso struck inside the box in the 29th on a second opportunity from a long-range hit by Zedan Charlec.
Arnold Abelinti had a hit from outside the box in 45+1 but was just wide of the mark.
Loic Baal added the second in the 49th, with a header at the right post. Abelinti was influential in keeping the play alive prior to the cross in from left field.
Joel Sarrucco added a third in the 90+4 after heading in a contested ball inside the box.
St Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Belize
St Vincent and the Grenadines were 3-0 winners over Belize at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in St. George's, Grenada.
The win saw St Vincent and the Grenadines taking second spot on nine points, one behind French Guiana, while Belize, ended third on eight points.
Diel Spring opened the scoring in the third minute after connecting with a back pass from Oalex Anderson.
NAnderson was denied by the left post in the 24th, as St Vincent and the Grenadines pushed for the second goal.
Cornelius Stewart was also denied by the woodwork on his free kick attempt which came off the crossbar, in the 61st minute.
Stewart was denied by the right post in the 70th and Deshawon Nembhard followed the play with a clearance to deny the ball crossing the line.
Kyle Edwards found the back of the net in the 84th, with a chipped ball from midfield to put Vincy Heat 2-0 up.
Oryan Velox sealed the result in the 85th with a hit inside the box, as the host moved out of the relegation spot and secured their stay in League B.
Guyana vs. Antigua and Barbuda
Guyana registered a fifth-consecutive win to confirm their spot as Group D winners when they defeated Antigua and Barbuda, 6-0, at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Kelsey Benjamin opened the scoring in the seventh minute by connecting with a pass across the box from Liam Gordon.
Benjamin went from goal scorer to provider in the 36th with a pass from right field to find an incoming Omari Glasgow inside the box.
Nathan Moriah-Welsh struck from behind the halfway line in the 45th, as Guyana took a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.
Osaze de Rosario added his name to the scoresheet in the 67th by cutting inside and striking a curling shot to the far-right corner of the net.
Leo Lovell added his own in the 90th, with a crossing ball from Gordon, who earned his second assist of the night.
Deon Moore capped off a buildup in the 90+3 to secure the largest margin of victory for Guyana in this campaign, as the Golden Jaguars secured their move to League A.
Puerto Rico vs. Bahamas
Puerto Rico took a 6-1 win over the Bahamas at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon.
The win pushed them to 12 points, as they finished second behind Guyana, with Antigua and Barbuda and Bahamas on four and one point respectively.
Ricardo Rivera put the home side in the lead in the second minute after he finished from deep inside the box.
Rivera struck again from inside the box in the sixth on a second attempt after initially being denied by Charles Tillett.
And Rivera completed the hat-trick in the 19th, with a header in front of goal after he met a cross from Noeh Hernandez.
Darren Rios added a fourth in the 39th after winning an aerial ball and proceeding to beat the defenders.
Marcel Joseph cut the deficit to 4-1 in the 53rd, off a free kick opportunity that Joel Serrano was unable to keep out of his goal.
Gerald Diaz struck from outside the box in the 74th, with a right-footed strike just at the edge of the penalty arc, before Wilfredo Rivera converted from the penalty spot in the 77th for Puerto Rico’s best margin of victory during the group stage.
Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic
Nicaragua concluded its campaign with a scoreless draw against the Dominican Republic at the National Football Stadium in Managua.
They finished tops in Group B on 16 points, six points ahead of Dominican Republic.
Oscar Acevedo tested goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd in the very first minute with a strike from outside the box.
Nicaragua’s Luis Coronel entered in the 31st due to an injury to Matias Moldskred. Coronel had a chance towards goal, but it was headed away by the defender Brian Lopez.
Riki Alba had the best chance of the first half for the Dominican Republic in the 34th but was unable to get it on frame.
Juan Pineda nearly put the visitors in front in the 51st, but the sides remined deadlocked.
Acevedo had another good look on goal in the 74th, as Nicaragua continued its pursuit of a sixth straight victory.
Dorny Romero was denied the late heroics in the 90+7, as Miguel Rodriguez made the clutch block to maintain the clean sheet.
Nicaragua will contest League A in the next edition of the Concacaf Nations League, as they sealed promotion with a 4-0 beating of Barbados in Group B of League B on Friday.
A Montserrat victory over Dominican Republic allowed Nicaragua to secure their ascent on the penultimate matchday, while the defeat for Barbados confirmed their relegation to League C for the next Nations League edition.
Over in Group C, Bermuda jumped into first place with a victory against St Vincent and the Grenadines, while Belize climbed out of the relegation spot with a goal on the last play of the match, leaving all to be decided on the final matchday.
Montserrat vs. Dominican Republic
Montserrat took a 2-1 victory at home to Dominican Republic at the Blakes Estate Stadium in Plymouth.
Montserrat’s Brandon Barzey opened the scoring in the 37th minute, with a header at the far post. Kaleem Strawbridge was influential in the build-up, as he played off a give-and-go before crossing the ball across the box.
Heinz Morschel of the Dominican Republic went close with a shot from a distance in 40th, but Corrin Brooks, in goal for Nicaragua, proved equal to the task.
Strawbridge extended Nicaragua's lead in the 57th with a curling attempt from edge of the box that kissed the left upright on its way in.
Edarlyn Reyes pulled one back for the visitors in the 75th with a power strike inside the box. Jean Lopez provided the service to the left post for Reyes to control and finish with aplomb.
Dominic Richmond nearly got a third for Montserrat in the 85th, but the substitute’s strike went just outside of the left post.
Barbados vs. Nicaragua
Nicaragua earned a 4-0 win over Barbados at the Wildey Turf Stadium in Wildey, Barbados to win Group B and clinch promotion to League A.
The visitors were awarded a penalty kick after Bancy Hernandez was taken down inside the box. Junior Arteaga buried the 22nd-minute 12-yard kick to put Nicaragua in front.
Nextaly Rodríguez extended the lead in the 43rd with a long-range hit from right field that found the left netting.
Luis Coronel added his name to the scoresheet in the 55th, with a hit on the volley from outside the box. Henry Nino supplied the assist from deep in midfield.
Jacob Montes added a fourth in the 59th, after protecting a through ball and seeing it into the box and past goalkeeper Liam Brathwaite.
Tajio James almost had a consolation for Barbados in the 80th, but Nicaragua's goalkeeper Cesar Salandia blocked the attempt with his right leg to deflect it over goal, preserving his clean sheet.
Bermuda vs. St Vincent and the Grenadines
Bermuda won 3-1 over St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Dame Flora Duffy National Sports Centre in Devonshire Parish, Bermuda.
With the win, Bermuda assumed pole position in Group C by a point over French Guiana.
An elaborate build up from the home team led to a Ne-Jai Tucker strike inside the box in the fifth minute to grab the early ascendancy.
Djair Parfitt was denied by the left post in the 16th, as the hosts almost doubled the lead during a rainy stretch.
Bermuda's goalkeeper Dale Eve kept the score intact with a strip in 26th, to deny Cornelius Stewart.
Nazir McBurnette put St Vincent and Grenadines back on level terms with a 34th-minute strike from midfield that took a deflection and curled to the right, leaving Eve no chance at a save.
But Kane Crichlow regained the lead for the hosts in the 44th, by pouncing on a second chance strike after a block from goalkeeper Lemus Christopher.
Eve then made a crucial save during the only minute of first half stoppage time to deny a Kyle Edwards from crossing the goal line.
Parfitt scored what would be an insurance goal in the 50th with a strike to the right corner of goal, completing the 3-1 scoreline.
Belize vs. French Guiana
Belize took a dramatic 1-0 victory French Guiana at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan.
French Guiana’s Arnold Abelinti had eyes for the opening goal early with a header inside the box in the second minute but was denied by Belize's goalkeeper Charles Tillett.
Abelinti had an opportunity inside the box in the ninth but could not get the power behind it to open the scoring.
One of the better opportunities for the hosts came as Eldon Reneau tried to find Gilroy Thurton at the far post in the 20th on a long free kick attempt.
Tillett had a busy first half with a key save in the 35th on a Thomas Nemouthe powerful strike from distance.
Nemouthe then had a shot towards goal in the 52nd, as French Guiana continued to apply pressure.
French Guiana's custodian Donovan Leon cut off a cross towards from Norman Anderson into the box in the 77th to keep the score line even, as Horace Avila was prowling inside the penalty area.
A corner kick provided the opportunity for the game-winner in the 90+6, as Eugene Martinez headed the ball in to take the full three points for Belize.
Dorny Romero scored a hat-trick to lift Dominican Republic to a third victory in Group B of League B as the 2023–24 Concacaf Nations League continued on Monday.
Despite the win, Dominican Republic remains second in the group behind Nicaragua, who were also victorious in their fixture against Montserrat.
French Guiana overtook the top spot in Group C with a victory against St Vincent and the Grenadines.
French Guiana vs. St Vincent and the Grenadines
French Guiana won 3-2 against St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Pierre-Aliker Stadium in Fort-de-France, Martinique.
Thomas Nemouthe opened the scoring in the 9th with a right-footed shot from the penalty spot. The hosts were awarded a penalty kick following a tackle on forward Arnold Abelinti.
Cornelius Stewart equalized in the 16th after an intercepted ball made for a breakaway opportunity. Oalex Anderson provided the assist across the box for Stewart to tie the game.
Franz Gaubert retook the lead for the home side in the 44th off a free kick opportunity.
Gaubert gave up a penalty after a tackle on Anderson to start the second half. Anderson took the spot kick but was denied by Marvin Golitin.
Stewart tied it again for the visitors in the 73rd as St Vincent and the Grenadines were in transition.
Jules Haabo delivered the game-winning goal in the 76th on a takeaway in midfield that he then drove into the penalty area for a diagonal strike to the bottom left corner of goal.
Dominican Republic vs. Barbados
The Dominican Republic took a 5-2 victory over Barbados on home soil at the Cibao Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros.
Thierry Gale found the back of the net in the 10th to put Barbados up from the penalty spot. The spot kick was conceded on the previous play as goalkeeper Xavier Valdez was attempting to secure the ball but tripped Codrington Shane.
Riki Alba equalized for the home side in the 17th off an individual play from the right side of goal as he battled through three defenders and the goalkeeper.
Romero continued his goalscoring form with a header in the 30th as the Dominican Republic took the lead for the first time on the night with a corner kick.
Romero secured his second goal of the night in the 48th with another header inside the penalty area. Angel Melo provided the cross from the right flank for Romero’s double.
Heinz Morschel extended the lead in the 59th with a right-footed strike inside the box.
Gale took one back for the visitors in the 66th to complete his brace. The opportunity came from a second conceded penalty kick by the Dominican Republic.
Romero struck with a third header in the 79th, this time from a corner kick. It marks six goals in the tournament for Romero and puts him in the lead in the Golden Boot race.
Nicaragua vs. Montserrat
Nicaragua defeated Montserrat 3-0 at the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua to remain atop Group B with 12 points.
Montserrat’s Lucas Kirnon came up with a header in the fourth to impede an early goal from the home side.
James Comley was ambitious from long range in the 28th in what was the best opportunity in the first half for the visiting team.
Juan Luis Perez broke through with the opening goal in the 38th on a free-kick opportunity. Defender Abraham Jeriel Dorsett tried to clear, but Perez got the header on the rebound.
Luis Coronel extended the lead in the 43rd with a hit from around the penalty marker. Bancy Hernandez supplied the assist inside the box to find his open teammate.
Matias Moldskred came on for the second half and immediately paid dividends with a third Nicaragua goal in the 48th. Goalkeeper Corrin Brooks tried to push the ball away from goal in the pouring rain to no avail.
From there, the Nicaraguan defense did the rest to nail down the clean sheet victory.
Nicaragua continued its winning streak as the 2023–24 Concacaf Nations League resumed with four encounters in League B on Friday.
Nicaragua and Dominican Republic were victorious in Group B as the former extended their lead atop the standing and maintained the charge toward promotion. Montserrat and Barbados trail in the group and look to avoid contending for relegation.
In Group C, St Vincent and the Grenadines was halted by French Guiana while Bermuda won at Belize. Vincy Heat remain in pole position due to its September victories and looks to defend that standing.
Montserrat vs. Nicaragua
Nicaragua defeated Montserrat by a scoreline of 3-0 at the Wildey Astro Turf Stadium in Barbados.
Juan Luis Perez opened the scoring in the fifth with a header to convert on an early corner kick opportunity.
Goalkeeper Corrin Brooks saved an attempt from Juan Barrera in the 31st to keep the deficit to a minimal difference as Nicaragua were pushing for more.
Ariagner Smith broke free in attack and nearly extended the lead in the 37th but Brooks was there for another save as both teams went tied to the break.
Harold Medina got the second for Nicaragua in the 72nd with a shot at the top of the arc.
Jacob Montes then added a third in the 90+4 to seal the three points for the group leader.
St Vincent and the Grenadines vs. French Guiana
French Guiana came away with a 4-1 victory against St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown.
Thomas Nemouthe struck in the seventh for the visitors with a left-footed shot from the right side of the box.
Arnold Abelinti extended the lead in the 11th with a right-footed hit from the penalty spot. The opportunity came from a handball into the box by defender Nigell Charles.
Jahvin Sutherland took one back for the home side in the 31st as a give-and-go off a corner kick made way for the defender to head in the ball inside the box.
Loic Baal struck again for French Guiana in the 42nd as the visitors retook a two-goal lead before halftime.
Jules Haabo iced the result with a strike in the 81st as a jubilant French Guiana team picked up its first three points of the campaign.
Barbados vs. Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic won 5-0 over Barbados at the Wildey Astro Turf Stadium in Barbados.
Dorny Romero struck in the seventh to cap off an elaborate play off a corner kick opportunity for the visiting side.
Edarlyn Reyes extended the lead in the 21st with a left-footed shot across goal on a counterattack.
Another free kick opportunity in the 45th made way for a third Dominican Republic goal by forcing an own goal from Ramon Griffith.
Heinz Morschel scored in the 57th with a rocket from the top of the box to get his first of the tournament.
Andre Applewhaite of Barbados was ejected in the 88th after a late tackle earned him a second yellow card. Riki Alba added a fifth in the ensuing free kick opportunity as the Dominican Republic earned its second victory of the tournament.
Belize vs. Bermuda
Bermuda took a 1-0 win against Belize at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize in the first-ever encounter between the two nations.
Kane Crichlow scored the opening goal in the 18th on a long-range attempt from midfield.
Eldon Reneau looked to have the equalizer in the 30th, but Bermuda goalkeeper Dale Eve blocked the shot. Nahjib Guerra then tried to get the tie for the hosts in the 45+1 but Eve was there for the save.
Jai Bean attempted in the 50th with a long-range shot. Meanwhile, Belize tried to go to its reinforcements on the bench as Horace Avila got on target in the 55th, forcing a save from Eve.
Belize goalkeeper Charles Tillett and Dale Eve both had important stops, as no goal would be scored for the remainder of the match.
Eve ended the day with four saves and the cleans sheet as Bermuda took its first win of the season.
St Kitts and Nevis’ Sugar Boyz historically qualified for their first ever CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage appearance on Tuesday night after defeating French Guiana 4-2 on penalties after the sides played to a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time on Tuesday night.
St Kitts and Nevis will now play in Group A alongside the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.
In the game where the start was delayed because of weather conditions at the Inter Miami CF Stadium Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the Sugar Boyz very nearly took the lead in the 26th minute when Romaine Sawyers sent across a low ball to Jacob Hazel on the corner of the six-yard box, but French Guiana defender Gregory Lescot was there to block the attempt.
Saint Kitts and Nevis kept control of the match, and the breakthrough came in the 41st minute; it was Tiquanny Williams who wrestled around the defense to receive a pass from Hazel and blast the ball home to give the Sugar Boyz a deserved 1-0 lead heading into the break.
However, Les Yana Dokos did not fold. Following a handball in the box, Arnold Abelinti tied the game in the 53rd minute with a perfectly placed penalty into the bottom corner. It was Abelinti’s third goal of the Prelims.
Both sides would push for a winner, but neither could find one, sending the match to a penalty shootout with a berth in the group stage on the line.
Just as in the first preliminary round a few days ago, the Sugar Boyz executed their kicks and goalkeeper Julani Archibald came up with a huge save. Late substitute Mervin Lewis sealed the deal with a thunderbolt into the top left corner in the fourth frame, sending Saint Kitts and Nevis side into celebration.
St. Kitts & Nevis’ Sugar Boyz will tonight play the biggest match in the history of St. Kitts and Nevis football at 9 pm when they face French Guiana with a spot in the Concacaf Gold Cup group stage on the line.
If the Sugar Boyz win, it will be the first time St. Kitts and Nevis would qualify for the prestigious tournament, which will be played in the US.
The match tonight will be at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The players are up and raring to go, and some of them have a message for the fans. Romaine Sawyers, during the pre-match press conference on Monday, recalled the last time St. Kitts and Nevis narrowly missed out on Gold Cup Qualification in 2019 against Suriname.
He noted this will motivate them to do well tonight. Meanwhile, Gerard Williams, one of the longstanding players with the national team talked about the importance of the moment and what qualifying for the Gold Cup would mean for him.
“This one is really, really special to me because I’ve been trying all the years to actually get in the Gold Cup and I feel if I really get to achieve this, it will be one of my biggest accomplishments in International Football,” Williams said.
It’s not just the fans at home that will be watching. When St. Kitts and Nevis played Curacao on Friday, there were St. Kitts Nevis fans in the stadium cheering on. Raheem Somersall spoke of the importance of the fans at home and abroad, supporting the team to the very end.
“That’s always a good thing, to know you have that support of the 12th man in the stands or at home…I know for myself it motivates me a lot because you look over and you see your (national) colors and it’s always a special feeling just knowing somebody else is there to cheer you on other than your coaches,” Somersall said.
St. Kitts and Nevis has a history with French Guiana, having first played them in the Caribbean Cup in 2014, defeating them 2-1.
In 2016, the Sugar Boyz lost to them 1-0 also in the Caribbean Cup and drew 2-2 in 2019 in the Concacaf Nations League.
Their last encounter was a 3-1 loss in 2019 in the Concacaf Nations League that result in relegation to League C of the Nations League.
Now, the Sugar Boyz have an opportunity to right the wrongs of that match with a victory that will clinch a historic qualification in the Concacaf Gold Cup.
French Guiana will be out to tame resurgent Trinidad and Tobago when the two sides meet in the Second Round of the 2021 Gold Cup Prelims on Tuesday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The winner will advance to the Gold Cup group stage and slot into Group A along with Mexico, El Salvador and Curacao.
But first things first, a tricky test awaits for both sides.
Tuesday’s contest will mark French Guiana’s first match of the Prelims and their first official match since their group finale in League B of the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League, a 3-1 win over Saints Kitts and Nevis in November 2019.
Nevertheless, with a team boasting many European-based players, including forward Sloan Privat, who scored one of his country’s two goals in the 2017 Gold Cup, and defenders Kevin Rimane, formerly of Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, and Stade Brestois 29’s Ludovic Baal, plus Boulogne goalkeeper Simon Lugier, Les Yono Dokos have the pieces in place for a good performance.
While Trinidad and Tobago’s campaign in Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 ended in a disappointing fashion in the First Round, the Soca Warriors are enjoying a resurgence under Interim Head Coach Angus Eve.
Trinidad and Tobago returned to their high-flying ways in a 6-1 triumph over Montserrat in the First Round of the Prelims, with Kevin Molino, Marcus Joseph and Judah Garcia among the goal-scorers.
A win against French Guiana would provide a massive momentum boost going into the Gold Cup group stage.
Haiti will take on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala faces Guyana while Trinidad and Tobago will go up against Monserrat when Round One of the preliminaries of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off on July 2 and 3 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Florida.
Cuba will tackle French Guiana, Guadeloupe will battle The Bahamas and Bermuda go up against Barbados in what will be the first time ever that the competition will have preliminaries that will see three teams qualify for the 16-team Group Stage.
“We look forward with great anticipation to this summer’s Gold Cup, which will undoubtedly be enhanced by this new Preliminary Round,” said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani.
“The past year has been very challenging in our region and our thoughts are with all the communities that have suffered. We hope the opportunity to watch the best men’s national teams in Concacaf compete in our flagship tournament can provide fans with some hope and enjoyment
All 12 of the competing nations in the Prelims will get a full Gold Cup experience at the excellent Inter Miami facilities and we look forward to a great set of games.”
“We look forward to hosting the Gold Cup Prelims tournament in our stadium,” said Inter Miami CF Managing Owner Jorge Mas. “Our facilities in Fort Lauderdale were built with the intent of giving our fans opportunities to enjoy the world’s game knowing that our vibrant culture and sports-centric region would be attractive for global teams and competitions. This is just the beginning of the great things that lie ahead.”
Round Two will begin on July 6 when the winner of the Haiti/St Vincent clash will take on the winner of the Bermuda/Barbados matchup. The winner of the Guatemala/Guyana encounter will play the winner of the Guadeloupe/Bahamas match. And finally, the winner of the Cuba/French Guiana match will tackle the winner of the Trinidad and Tobago/Montserrat clash.
The winning nation in each of the three Round Two matchups will advance to the Group Stage of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, where they were drawn into Group A, B and C as follows:
Group A: Mexico, El Salvador, Curacao, and Winner Prelims 9
Group B: USA, Canada, Martinique, and Winner Prelims 7
Group C: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Suriname, and Winner Prelims 8
Group D: Honduras, Panama, Grenada, and Qatar.
The 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage will kick off on July 10 and run through August 1, 2021, and will feature 16 national teams, of which Canada, Costa Rica, Curaçao, El Salvador, Grenada, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, eight-time and defending champion Mexico, Panama, Suriname, six-time champion the United States, are already qualified to the group stage of the tournament. Additionally, Qatar has been invited to the tournament as the current champion and representative of the Asian Football Confederation.
The remaining three countries will qualify through the Gold Cup Prelims, in which 12 Member Associations will compete for the final three spots, to be played July 2-6- at Inter Miami CF Stadium in South Florida.
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