MIAMI – The 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League kicked off on Wednesday, as six nations in League C began their quest for promotion
History was made in the last encounter of the day as Elijah Seymour scored the 1,000th goal in CNL history, in what was also the lone goal of the match, as the Cayman Islands defeated the British Virgin Islands.
Anguilla also made history with its first ever victory in the Concacaf Nations League with a victory against Turks and Caicos Islands. The lone draw of the day came between the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Bahamas as the former rallied from 3-1 down to split the points.
Anguilla vs. Turks and Caicos Islands
Anguilla won 2-nil against Turks and Caicos Islands to collect its first ever CNL victory as Group B got underway at TCIFA National Stadium in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Germain Hughes struck the opening goal in the 58' by helping the ball cross the goal line following a loose ball from Samuel Harvey. The Turks and Caicos goalkeeper struggled to contain a shot on target from an Anguilla free kick delivered by Kayne Connor.
Lamar Carpenter extended Anguilla’s lead in the 74', winning a contested ball in the box before striking with his left foot.
U.S. Virgin Islands vs. Bahamas
The U.S. Virgin Islands and the Bahamas tied 3-3 in Group A at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Bahamas took the lead in the 2’ after Lesly St Fleur converted on an opportunity from the penalty spot.
Naqwan Henry answered for the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 27' with a strike into the left netting off a pass into the center of the box from Rakeem Joseph.
Wood Julmis retook the lead for the visitors in the 37' with a header inside the box. Jordan Cheetham provided the cross from the right side of midfield.
Brandon Adderley added a third for the Bahamas in the 58' with a right-footed finish in the box to finish a sequence he helped advance from a clearance. Michael Massey provided the assist through the middle of the field to find the forward inside the penalty area.
Rakeem Joseph cut the deficit in the 77' as the U.S.V.I. capitalized on a throw-in.
Gabriel Catone-Highfield tied the match in the 86' with a header inside the box to connect with a service from Jett Blaschka.
British Virgin Islands vs. Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands won 1-nil over the British Virgin Islands in Group C at the Truman Bodden Complex in George Town, Cayman Islands.
Trey Ebanks had a look on goal in the 21’ but was denied by B.V.I. goalkeeper Frankie Beckles.
Jacobbi Tugman looked to hit towards an open net in the 31' but Kavon Caesar made a timely clearance to keep the score even.
Beckles again made a save in the 76’ to keep the match scoreless and deny Alexander Clarke-Ramírez.
Elijah Seymour broke the deadlock in the 84' with a left-footed strike inside the box. The play came off an intercepted ball from Zachary Scott who went on to feed the ball into the penalty area for the match-winning goal.
