Dominican Republic maintained their positive start to the Concacaf Nations League campaign, while Bermuda is now on the board as both registered victories in the League B, Group D double-header at the ABFA Technical Center in Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday.
The Dominican Republic defeated Dominica 2-0 in a top-of-the-table clash, and Bermuda clipped hosts Antigua and Barbuda 1-0 to end the September window on a positive note.
With the win, Dominican Republic moved up to six points, three ahead of Bermuda and Dominica, while Antigua and Barbuda will head into the next window without a point.
Dominican Republic vs. Dominica
Having won their opening encounters, this contest was expected to be a closely contested affair, but it was the Dominican Republic who proved the better team on the day.
Ronaldo Vasquez broke the deadlock with a cheeky finish in the 11th minute.
Dorny Romero doubled the lead with 25th-minute strike that secured the points for Dominican Republic to boost their promotion hopes.
Antigua and Barbuda vs. Bermuda
Bermuda’s 1-0 scoreline marked their first victory Antigua and Barbuda in an official match for the first time since 1992.
Kane Crichlow found the all-important goal in the 56th minute as he dazzled defenders with nippy footwork on his way to slotting home.
Antigua and Barbuda battled hard and should have had the equaliser in the 87th, but Keon Greene hit a volleyed effort just wide of the target from deep inside the 18-yard box.
Meanwhile, Belize, Barbados, and St Kitts and Nevis remained atop their respective League groups in League C.
Belize edged Anguilla 1-0 courtesy of Jordy Polanco’s 26th-minute strike to sit comfortably atop Group B on six points. Anguilla (three) and Turks and Caicos Islands (zero) follow.
Barbados, through goals from Carl Hinkson (15th), Niall Reid-Stephen (86th) and Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (90+3), topped US Virgin Islands 3-0 in Group A. Barbados now have six points, five ahead of Bahamas and US Virgin Islands with a point each.
Meanwhile, Tiquanny Williams with a brace in the 11th and 64th minutes, propelled St Kitts and Nevis to a 2-0 win over British Virgin Islands in Group C.
The win saw St Kitts and Nevis (six points) move three ahead of Cayman Islands (three points), as British Virgin Islands remain pointless.
Tiquanny Williams shined with a hat-trick to deliver a victory for St Kitts and Nevis, as the 2023–24 Concacaf Nations League resumed with two Group A matches in League B on Thursday.
St Lucia edged Guadeloupe as the top two teams in the group faced off. After three games, St Lucia maintains the pole position for promotion with Guadeloupe, St Kitts and Nevis and St Maarten rounding out the group in that order.
St Maarten vs. St Kitts and Nevis
St Kitts and Nevis won 3-2 against St Maarten at the Raymond E. Guishard Stadium in The Valley, Anguilla.
Tiquanny Williams opened the scoring in the 16th with a difficult strike off the edge of the left post.
Gerwin Lake responded for the hosts with a thunderous strike inside the box in the 19th. Centre back Sergio Hughes found Lake on the right flank with an accurate long ball and the striker did the rest.
Williams retook the lead for the visitors, 2-1, in the 48th after pouncing on a rebounding ball off the crossbar to hit a left-foot strike into the net.
St Maarten nearly equalized in the 67th but was denied on a goal-line clearance followed by a Chovanie Amatkarijo attempt bouncing off the right post.
Williams completed his hat-trick in the 68th as St Kitts and Nevis used a quick counter attack to extend its lead.
Imar Kort took one back for St Maarten in the 79th after goalkeeper Julani Archibald could not contain a potent shot from and Amatkarijo free kick.
The visitors withstood the late St Maarten rally to gain its first victory of the campaign. The two will meet again in three days as St Kitts and Nevis will look to repeat the result on its home turf.
St Lucia vs. Guadeloupe
St Lucia kept their perfect record with a 2-1 win over Guadeloupe at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St Lucia.
Jerome Roussillon put the visitors in the lead in the 29th after connecting on a long pass from Andreaw Gravillon. Roussillon brought the ball down inside the box with his left before striking with his right.
Caniggia Elva tied the encounter 1-1 in the 45th as St Lucia pushed for the equalizer prior to halftime. Janoi Donacien propelled the play forward before passing to Elva inside the box.
Gregson President was denied on a breakaway in the 55th as Davy Royard was there to block as the last line of defense. Rouyard had another save just one minute later to keep the score level.
Jevick Mac Farlane put the home side in front 2-1 in the 58th with right-footed shot into goal. Elva provided the through ball as St Lucia completed an attack through the left flank.
Second half substitutes Kilian Bevis and Vikash Tille nearly connected for the tying goal in the 89th, but goalkeeper Vino Barclett provided the safe hands to intercept Tille’s header.
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 and Nevis defeated St Martin 3-1 in their Concacaf Nations League Group B encounter at the Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre in Anguilla on Thursday.
St Kitts, playing a 4-3-3 formation started with Julanni Archibald in goal with Lois Maynard at left back Raheem Hanley and Andre Burley at centre back while Gerard Williams marshalled the right side.
Romaine Sawyers, Omari Sterling James and Yohannes Mitchum played in the middle of the park while Tyrese Shade, Keithroy Freeman and the SKNFA Premier League’s leading scorer Tiquanny Williams in the attacking positions front.
St Martin, meanwhile, playing 3-5-2, started with Jordan Etienne in goal with Mickael Clio, Stephan Varsovie and Donovan Fils Aime protecting the goal.
Across midfield were from left to right Belony Dumas, Kevin Zonzon, Ismael Petchy, Emmanuel Richardson and Randy Gentes.
Pierre Bertrand Arne and Jeremy Peterson were the starting forwards.
Williams gave the Sugar Boyz the lead in the 26th minute. However, the lead did not last long as St Martin pulled level five minutes later through Pierre-Bertrand Arne.
Sawyers sent St Kitts and Nevis into the break with a 2-1 lead when he scored in the 35th minute.
That score-line would hold until Harry Panayiotou, who came on as a substitute for James in the 77th minute, secured all three points scoring the game winner a minute from full-time.
The win takes St Kitts and Nevis to the top of Group B with seven points from their three games to date.
Aruba lie second with four points while St Martin have two points from four games played.
St Kitts return home to face Aruba on Monday.
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