MIAMI. - French Guiana and Guyana secured promotion, as play concluded in League B of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League on Tuesday.
Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic drew 0-0 as both finish first and second, respectively, in Group B. Having secured the top spot in the prior match, Nicaragua achieved their best record in CNL with a 5-1-0 mark.
French Guiana secured first place in Group C with a victory over Bermuda. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines bested Belize to decide which side would get relegated to League C.
Guyana remained perfect with a fifth consecutive win to secure first in Group D and promotion to the top tier. Puerto Rico collected a win over Antigua and Barbuda, as the Bahamas finished in last place.
French Guiana vs. Bermuda
French Guiana defeated Bermuda, 3-0, at the Pierre-Aliker Stadium in Fort-de-France, Martinique.
French Guiana goalkeeper Marvin Golitin intercepted a free kick service in the 17’ to deter any positive momentum from the visitors.
French Guiana’s Albert Ajaiso struck inside the box in the 29’ on a second opportunity from a long-range hit by Zedan Charlec.
Arnold Abelinti had a hit from outside the box in 45’+1 but was just wide of the mark.
Loic Baal added the second in the 49’ with a header at the right post. Abelinti was influential in keeping the play alive prior to the cross in from left field.
Joel Sarrucco added a third in the 90+4’ after heading in a contested ball inside the box.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Belize
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines won 3-0 against Belize at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in St. George's, Grenada.
Diel Spring opened the scoring in the 3’ after connecting with a back pass from Oalex Anderson.
Anderson was denied by the left post in the 24’, as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines pushed for the second goal.
Cornelius Stewart was also denied by the woodwork as his free kick attempt in the 61’ hit the crossbar.
Stweart was denied by the right post in the 70’ and Deshawon Nembhard followed the play with a clearance to deny the ball crossing the line.
Kyle Edwards found the back of the net in the 84’ with a chipped ball from midfield to make it 2-0 to Vincy Heat.
Oryan Velox sealed the result in the 85’ with a hit inside the box, as the host moved out of the relegation spot and secured their stay in League B.
Guyana vs. Antigua and Barbuda
Guyana defeated Antigua and Barbuda, 6-0, at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Kelsey Benjamin opened the scoring in the 7' by connecting with pass across the box from Liam Gordon.
Benjamin went from goal scorer to assist man in the 36’ with a pass from right field to find an incoming Omari Glasgow inside the box.
Nathan Moriah-Welsh struck from behind the halfway line in the 45' as Guyana took a commanding 3-0 lead before the halftime whistle.
Osaze de Rosario added his name to the scoresheet in the 67' by cutting inside and striking a curling shot to the far-right corner of the net.
Leo Lovell added his own in the 90' with a crossing ball from Gordon, who earned his second assist of the night.
Deon Moore capped off a buildup in the 90+3’ to secure the largest margin of victory for Guyana in this campaign, as the Golden Jaguars secured their move to League A.
Puerto Rico vs. Bahamas
Puerto Rico took a 6-1 win over the Bahamas at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Ricardo Rivera put the home side in the lead in the 2’ after striking inside the box to conclude an early build up from the home squad.
Rivera struck again from inside the box in the 6’ on a second attempt after initially being denied by Charles Tillett.
Rivera converted a hat-trick in the 19’ with a header in front of goal to meet a cross from Noeh Hernandez.
Darren Rios added a fourth in the 39’ after winning an aerial ball and proceeding to beat the defense.
Marcel Joseph cut the deficit to 4-1 in the 53’ off a free kick opportunity that Joel Serrano was unable to keep out of his goal.
Gerald Diaz struck from outside the box in the 74’ with a right-footed strike just at the edge of the penalty arc.
Wilfredo Rivera then converted from the penalty marker in the 77’ for Puerto Rico’s best margin of victory during the group stage.
Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic
Nicaragua concluded its campaign with a scoreless draw against the Dominican Republic at the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua.
Oscar Acevedo tested goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd as soon as the 1’ with a strike from outside the box.
Nicaragua’s Luis Coronel entered in the 31’ due to an injury to Matias Moldskred. Coronel had a chance towards goal but had it headed away by the defender Brian Lopez.
Riki Alba had the best chance of the first half for the Dominican Republic in the 34’ but was unable to get it on frame.
Juan Pineda nearly put the visitors in front in the 51’, but the sides remined deadlocked.
Acevedo had another good look on goal in the 74’ as Nicaragua continued its pursuit of a sixth straight victory.
Dorny Romero was denied the late heroics in the 90+7’, as Miguel Rodriguez made the clutch block to maintain the clean sheet.
