MIAMI – Guatemala and Martinique claimed essential victories as the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League continued with three Group A fixtures in League A on Friday.
Martinique opened the day by defeating Guadeloupe to claim its first win of the campaign. Suriname and Costa Rica played out a hard-fought draw, while Guatemala won in its visit to Guyana to take the top spot in the group.
Guatemala leads the group with seven points, followed by Costa Rica with five and Suriname with four. The bottom half of the standings begins with Martinique on four points, followed by Guadeloupe with three points and Guyana with one point.
Guadeloupe vs. Martinique
Martinique won 1-nil against Guadeloupe at the Stade Roger Zami in Le Gosier, Guadeloupe.
Guadeloupe had an early opportunity in the 8’ with a shot inside the box from Thierry Ambrose following an individual play and pass from Jérôme Roussillon.
Martinique goalkeeper Yannis Clementia prevented the hosts from taking in the 22’, denying a dangerous attempt from Matthias Phaeton.
A chip inside the box from Mickael Biron in the 48’ following a run down the left flank was met by a save from Guadeloupe goalkeeper Brice Cognard, followed by a subsequent goal-line clearance from the defense to deny Cyril Mandouki.
Brighton Labeau scored the lone goal in the match in the 86’ with a left-footed low drive from the center of the box following an assist from Biron.
Clementia finished the match with seven saves to secure Martinique’s first clean sheet.
With its first win this campaign, Martinique improved to four points and climbed to fourth place in Group A.
Suriname vs. Costa Rica
Suriname and Costa Rica drew 1-1 at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium in Paramaribo, Suriname.
Josimar Alcócer opened the scoring to give the visitors the lead in the 13’, with a left-footed strike inside the box. Manfred Ugalde assisted the attempt.
Sheraldo Becker shot inside the penalty area in the 27’ but was blocked by Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira.
Gleofilo Vlijter equalized for the hosts with a right-footed finish from the center of the box after a pass from Becker. With the goal, Vlijter took his tally to 12 and extended his lead as Suriname’s all-time top scorer in the CNL.
Costa Rica was left a man down in the 51’ when Alcocer was shown a red card.
Becker came close to giving Suriname the lead in the 61’ with a right-footed strike from the edge of the box that was saved by Sequeira.
Andy Rojas came close to scoring in the 75’ with a right-footed curler from the edge of the box the box that was just wide of the far post.
With the draw, Costa Rica improves to five points and sits second in Group A. Suriname has four points and is third in the group.
Guyana vs. Guatemala
Guatemala won 3-1 against Guyana at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora, Guyana.
Oscar Santis opened the scoring with a finish to the far post in the 17’ to capitalize on an assist from Nathaniel Mendez-Lang and give Guatemala the lead.
The hosts equalized in the 31’ with a right-footed finish to the top-right corner from inside the box from Stephen Duke-Mckenna on an assist from Nathan Moriah-Welsh.
Óscar Castellanos scored in the 61’ to reclaim the lead for Los Chapines after a cross from Aaron Herrera on a fast break.
Santis secured his brace and rounded out the win for Guatemala in the 68’ assisted by Rubio Rubín.
With the win, Guatemala climbs to the top of Group A with seven points.
Group A will resume on Tuesday, headlined by Costa Rica and Guatemala meeting with first place on the line. Martinique will host Guadeloupe, while Suriname will visit Guyana in the other encounters.
