MIAMI, Florida – The 2022 Concacaf Caribbean Shield (CCCS) in Puerto Rico kicked off on Friday with four very exciting games.
Group A opened with host club Bayamon FC and Juniors Stars of Saint Martin playing to a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon.
Aneudy Martinez’s right-footed strike in the 9’ gave Junior Stars a 1-0 lead, but Agustin Ortega’s tap-in levelled things at 1-1 in the 17’. Back came Junior Stars and Alain Cordero’s long-range rocket in the 24’ made it 2-1 to the Saint Martin side.
The action was end-to-end and once again it was even, 2-2, when Ryan Lopez tallied for Bayamon in the 27’ with a right-footed finish. However, Junior Stars weren’t done, and they regained the lead, 3-2, as Pablo Adams stabbed home a shot in the 29’.
Things settled down as play drifted into the second half, but Bayamon would come up with the equalizer in the 65’ to earn a share of the spoils, as Lopez found a hole in the Junior Stars defense and was able to sweep home a shot to complete the 3-3 scoreline.
Inter Moengo Tapoe of Suriname earned their first three points of the tournament with a 5-2 triumph over Nacional of Aruba in Group C at the Estadio Centroamericano de Mayaguez in Mayaguez.
Romeo Kastiel gave Inter Moengo Tapoe a 1-0 lead in the 21’, only for Nacional to strike back with consecutive goals in the 23’ and 53’ from Joshua Aguirre and Devis Oliveros, respectively, to take a 2-1 lead.
But Inter Moengo Tapoe enjoyed a late surge, beginning with Joel Baja’s goal in the 73’, followed by a pair of Ronaldo Kemble goals in the 77’ and 89’ sandwiching Miguel Molle’s score in the 87’.
AS Gosier of Guadeloupe rallied from a halftime deficit to claim a 2-1 win over Bonaire’s Real Rincon in Group B at the Estadio Centroamericano de Mayaguez in Mayaguez.
Isha Hughan gave Real Rincon a 1-0 lead in the 28’, but the second half belonged to AS Gosier, beginning with Ronan Popote’s penalty conversion in the 59’ and ending with Serin Livier’s winning goal in the 76’.
The day in Group B then ended with Jong Holland of Curacao edging SWA Sharks FC from Turks and Caicos Islands, 1-0.
The lone goal came in the 50’ when Jurensley Martina’s cross wasn’t cleared and Shurwendel Roosje was there to pounce on the loose ball and score the winning goal.
