DOMINICAN Republic – The 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship Qualifiers kicked off on Friday in the Dominican Republic with action in both Group A and Group B.
Grenada and Curacao currently lead the way in Group A after posting wins at the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristobal.
Grenada enjoyed a complete performance in a 7-0 victory over Sint Maarten. Deanroy Phillip notched a hat trick (41’, 45+3’, 90+3’), while Aquil Lawlite (13’), Benjamin Ettienne (44’), Shermine Williams (61’) and Simeon Mitchell (73’) all chipped in with goals.
Curacao were just as impressive in their opening match, a 7-0 triumph against British Virgin Islands. Gio-Renys Felicia (4’, 29’) and Naygiro Sambo (18’, 49’) each had braces, while Juruel Bernadina (25’), Shudelmar Dorand (90’) and Akram Potmis (90+3’) found the back of the net.
In Group B, Saint Lucia collected the first three points by virtue of their 5-2 win over Saint Martin at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo.
Goals from Wendy Isidor (8’) and Enzo Fremondiere (40’) had Saint Martin on level terms 2-2 shortly before halftime, but Saint Lucia got a top performance from Caull Keegan (4’, 43’, 89’), who had a hat trick, and was helped by scores from Dahmanii Bertheir (10’) and Daneo Caroo (87’).
In the other match in Group B, host nation Dominican Republic got six goals from five different players, plus an own goal, in a 6-0 win against Anguilla. Jason Joseph (2’), Kefler Martes (10’), Diefri Sandy (33’), Adonis Vargas (50’) and Edison Azcona (74’) scored for the Dominican Republic, on top of a Caleb Bryan own goal (72’).
Play in Group C and Group D will begin on Saturday, with Puerto Rico squaring off with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Bermuda meeting Barbados in Group C. Meanwhile, in Group D, Guyana will face Cayman Islands and Nicaragua will clash with US Virgin Islands.
