TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – The knockout stage of the 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship in Honduras begins on Saturday with four teams taking aim at a quarterfinal spot.
Nicaragua vs. USA
The Estadio Nacional in Tegucigalpa will see reigning champions the United States square off with Nicaragua, one of the four teams that emerged from last November CMU20 Qualifying campaign.
The Pinoleros finished atop Group D of CMU20Q with a perfect 3W-0D-0L record thanks in part to the goal-scoring contributions of Keylon Batiz, Jareck Caceres and Widman Talavera, who each had three goals.
Meanwhile, the U.S. finished up their CMU20 group stage with a perfect 3W-0D-0L record and were paced by the likes of Quinn Sullivan, who had three goals and an assist, and the two goals and assist from Paxten Aaronson.
It is the first meeting between the two nations in the CMU20 era.
Cuba vs Panama
Also, at the Estadio Nacional in Tegucigalpa it will be a duel between Cuba and Panama.
The Cubans enjoyed a very good campaign in Group E, earning six points out of nine and were paced by Kevin Martin, who scored the winning goal in each victory. Martin will now try to do the same against a Panama side that finished third in Group G with four points.
Javier Betegon and Leonel Tejada with two goals each will be the ones to watch for the Canaleros.
Honduras vs Curacao
Host nation Honduras begin their knockout round at the Estadio Yankel Rosenthal in San Pedro Sula against a very tough Curacao side that will try to repeat the feat of their Senior National Team during the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League and beat Honduras on Honduran soil.
Prior to the CMU20 era in 2009, the two nations faced each other five times, with Honduras winning four times and Curacao once, so a chance to earn bragging rights is once again at stake.
Marco Tulio Aceituno and Jefryn Macias have been stellar for Honduras with three goals each, while Curacao poured in 23 goals on their way to a 4W-0D-0L finish in CMU20Q, thanks in part to the six goals scored by Juruel Bernadina.
Trinidad and Tobago vs Costa Rica
The day’s other game in San Pedro Sula finds Costa Rica taking on Trinidad and Tobago.
The Ticos had a strong second place finish in Group H aided in part by two goals from Dorian Rodriguez to help them finish with four points.
But Costa Rica will have to be wary of a big goal threat from the Soca Warriors in the form of Nathaniel James, who is the joint-top scorer in the tournament with four goals, helping Trinidad and Tobago to a third-place finish in Group F.
Game Notes Round of 16, Saturday June 24, 2022
