Shaquille Cairo scored a pair of goals to lead 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield winners Robinhood of Suriname to a 2-0 victory against Jamaican side Dunbeholden in Group B action of the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup at Sabina Park on Thursday.

Robinhood now sit atop the group with six points after two games, while Dunbeholden have one point after three matches.

Robinhood raced out to an early 1-0 lead in the 15th when they were able to take advantage of a defensive error from Dunbeholden. The home side failed to clear their lines adequately and a deflected ball up into the air right in front of goal was headed into net by Shaquille Cairo.

Dunbeholden went right to work on finding an equalizer and Stephen Barnett looked poised to do it in the 25th, only for Robinhood goalkeeper Jonathan Fonkel to make a sensational stretch save.

Odane Samuels was next to be turned away on a brilliant save by Jonathan Fonkel, this time on a shot from just a few yards out that the visiting shot-stopper somehow managed to parry to safety in the 34th.

Robinhood absorbed Dunbeholden’s punches and then landed another big blow in the 55th when a cross from Tuur Don met the charging Cairo, who fired into net for a 2-0 Robinhood lead.

The Robinhood defense took over after that, nailing things down to record the clean sheet victory.

Tivoli Gardens missed a glorious chance to book an automatic semi-final playoff spot when they were held to 1-1 by Molynes United in their Jamaica Premier League match at the UWI-JFF
Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.

Tyrique Wilson had given Molynes United a 79th-minute lead, tapping home from close range after a good team build-up and a cool finish from a Tyrique Sutherland pass. But just three minutes later, Stephen Barnett earned a share of the points for Tivoli Gardens when he headed home at the near post from a pinpoint Daveon Garrison cross in the 82nd minute.

Tivoli Gardens which started the day on 16 points could have gone joint top of the league with a win.
Tivoli Gardens’ assistant coach Dwayne Blake said they were very disappointed not to have grabbed the opportunity in securing a top-two spot and avoiding the quarterfinal playoffs.
“We are very, very disappointed,” said Blake. “Any team comes, we just have to take it and do what we have to do if we want to win the title.”

Molynes United with just one win all season remained second from bottom in 10th spot on seven points. Andre Daley, assistant coach of Molynes United, was the happier for the point
and believed they are building something better for next season.

“We put the ball down more and made some passes. We have some changes for next season but I am pleased with the performance today (Saturday). The youngsters came out and they played pretty well,” said Daley.