MIAMI – Haiti and Saint Lucia held down their group leads as the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League continued Friday with four matches in League B.
Group B play was held at Darren Sammy Ground in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, while Group C played its matches at Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadion in Oranjestad, Aruba.
Sint Maarten vs. Puerto Rico
Sint Maarten earned a 3-2 victory over Puerto Rico to stay within three points of the top spot in Group C.
Puerto Rico got on the board first when Rodolfo Sulia rose up on a near-post run off a corner kick to head in the opening goal in the 2’.
Sint Maarten recovered its composure and broke through with the equalizer as Chovanie Amatkarijo struck in the 44’, right before halftime.
That continued in the second half when Amatkarijo used some excellent footwork to lose his defender and tee up an assist for the Imar Kort header in the 49’.
Amatkarijo notched his brace from the penalty spot in the 85’ after Puerto Rico’s goalkeeper Joel Serrano was called for a foul on a jump ball in the area.
Alec Diaz netted a consolation goal for Puerto Rico in the 90'+5, chipping the goalkeeper.
Sint Maarten moved into second place with six points. Puerto Rico sits in third place with three points.
Grenada vs. Curaçao
Grenada and Curaçao played to a scoreless draw, each improving to four points.
Neither side could get much going on offense in the first half, but the second half was a battle of goalkeeping on both ends.
Curaçao keeper Eloy Room made some big saves, but Grenada’s Reice Charles-Cook made massive stops in the final minutes to persevere the clean sheet.
At the halfway point of group play, both sides have a win, a draw, and a loss. Curaçao sits in second place on goal difference.
Saint Martin vs. Saint Lucia
A late brace from Caniggia Elva led Saint Lucia to a pivotal 2-1 win over Saint Martin.
Axel Raga put Saint Martin ahead in the 30’ with an incredible goal from distance. Elva found the equalizer with a header in the 76’ and scored the winner with a scramble in the box during the closing seconds of regulation.
With that result, Saint Lucia stays atop the group with nine points, while Saint Martin continues to be winless in this edition of the tournament.
Aruba vs. Haiti
Group C leaders Haiti remained perfect with a 3-1 victory over Aruba.
It took just six minutes for Aruba to get on the board as Tyron Perret Gentil got on the end of a cross to score the opener.
Haiti responded well as Frantzdy Pierrot headed the equalizer in the 31’. The tournament’s leading scorer, Duckens Nazon, added a brace as he scored from the penalty spot in the 38’ and finished with a low strike from the box in the 61’.
Haiti stays atop Group C with nine points as winless Aruba falls into danger of relegation.
