MIAMI, Florida – World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022 resumed in the Concacaf region on Wednesday, as the First Round winds down to a thrilling conclusion next week.
Dominica 3 Anguilla 0
The day kicked off in Group D with Dominica facing Anguilla, with a flurry of first-half goals giving Dominica its first World Cup qualification triumph since a 2015 win over the British Virgin Islands. Briel Thomas gave Rajesh Latchoo’s squad an early lead with a goal in the third minute.
His strike was followed by a 34th goal from Chad Bertrand and another before the halftime break scored by Julian Wade. Anguilla was able to keep a clean sheet in the second half, with Dominica nabbing the 3-0 final.
Montserrat will go to sleep atop Group A after a 4-0 victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Estadio Panamericano in the Dominican Republic.
While the Emerald Boys were pushing for a goal from the opening whistle, it didn’t arrive until Nathan Pond found the opener in the 39th minute. Rohan Ince added a second on the hour, and substitute attacker Adrian Clifton added a double with goals in the 66th and 83rd minutes.
Montserrat now travels for an away date with Grenada on June 8, while the USVI close play by hosting El Salvador on June 5.
Cuba nabbed its first victory of qualification, beating the British Virgin Islands 5-0 in a match that took place at the Estadio Doroteo Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Forwards Luis Paradela, Onel Hernandez and Maikel Reyes, on as a substitute, scored the opening three goals before defender Cavafe got in on the party with an 80th-minute goal from a set piece.
Cuba put the cherry on top with a final goal in stoppage time through Dairon Reyes and now turns its attention to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on June 8, while the British Virgin Islands will stay in Guatemala to meet Curacao.
Joshua John’s double helped Aruba find its first victory since 2018, beating the Cayman Islands, 3-1, in Group B action.
Aruba had the bulk of possession in the first half, but the Cayman Islands earned a penalty at the half-hour mark with Jonah Ebanks stepping up and putting it to the goalkeeper’s right to open the scoring.
Aruba was looking for an equalizer from the spot five minutes later, but John sent his kick down the middle and it was saved by Cayman Islands GK Albertini Holness.
John atoned for the miss though in the 40th minute when he had the ball at his feet atop the 18-yard area and smashed a shot into the back of the net from distance to tie the contest.
It was 2-1 by halftime with Terence Groothusen getting the ball in the box, turning and finishing from close range. John then added another individual goal in the second half to help Aruba to its first World Cup qualification win since 2015.
