MIAMI, Florida – Group B of League C of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League swung back in action on Saturday at the Complejo Deportivo Guillermo Prospero Trinidad in Oranjestad, Aruba, where Aruba took down US Virgin Islands 3-2.
Aruba took a big step toward promotion to League B with the win, as they now have six points through two matches, while USVI have one point after two matches.
Aruba had the bulk of the chances in the first half, but each side had a decent crack at goal. Benjamin Maria’s free kick in the 34’ for Aruba forced a big save from USVI GK Dylan Ramos, while USVI’s Raejae Joseph fired a free kick in the 40’ that required a stretch save from Aruba GK Matthew Lentink
Aruba kept plugging away and they would find the breakthrough in the 52’ when Jaybrien Romano’s cross from the right wing was volleyed in by Rovien Ostiana for a 1-0 lead.
The momentum was with the hosts and they confidently doubled their advantage to 2-0 in the 62’. A free kick was played into Aruba FW Terence Groothusen, whose shot was blocked by Ramos, but Diederick Luydens was there to head in the rebound.
USVI were unfazed and just a minute later in the 63’ it was back to a one-goal game when a shot from Kassall Greene rolled through a sea of legs and past Lentink to make it 2-1.
Jaydon Dania almost restored a two-goal lead for Aruba in the 80’ on a free kick that hit the post, but the third Aruba goal would arrive in short order, as Mishawn Molina stabbed home a cross from Mark Jacobs in the 86’ to make it 3-1.
USVI never threw in the towel, though, and on the final play of the game they made it a 3-2 final as Matthew Roth headed into net off a corner kick for USVI.
