MIAMI, Florida – League A of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League continues on Friday with a pivotal day of action in Group A.

Curacao vs. Panama

Things in Group A get started at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad, Curacao where Curacao will host 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup runners-up Panama.

Panama are second in the group with four points, just slightly ahead of third-place Guatemala, while Curacao are looking to kickstart their campaign after failing to register a point in the September window.

These two teams should be very familiar with each other after having squared off in Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 in which Panama won 2-1 before a 0-0 draw in the second contest.

Forwards Jose Fajardo and Cecilio Waterman each scored during the 3-0 win over Martinique in the September window and will be keen to do it again. However, the maestro in midfield pulling the strings will be 2023 Gold Cup Best Player Award winner Adalberto Carrasquilla.

Curacao will need to limit Carrasquilla and rely on their own attacking talent, like Rangelo Janga and Elson Hooi, who have a combined three career CNL goals.

Referees Curaçao vs Panama

REF:         ISMAIL ELFATH (USA)

AR1:         COREY PARKER (USA)

AR2:         KYLE ATKINS (USA)

4TH:         VICTOR RIVAS (USA)

Martinique vs. El Salvador

Two teams looking to move up the table meet at the Stade Municipal Pierre-Aliker in Fort-de-France, Martinique, where Martinique will welcome in El Salvador.

Les Matinino have three points after two games and can get themselves into the mix for a top-two finish with a win. Martinique downed Curacao 1-0 in the previous matchday on a goal from Brighton Labeau, who will no doubt be called upon again to offer a spark going forward.

New Head Coach Ruben De La Barrera will get his first taste of CNL action for El Salvador after the Cuscatlecos fell in defeat in their first two games in September.

Talented attacking midfielders Amando Moreno and Enrico Duenas will hope to get a crack at impressing the new boss, as will Mayer Gil and Brayan Gil, who each scored in last summer’s Gold Cup.

This will be the third meeting between the two nations, with a victory each. They faced each other in last summer’s Gold Cup, ending in a 2-1 victory for Martinique in the group stage.

Referees Martinique vs El Salvador

REF:         CESAR RAMOS (Mexico)

AR1:         ALBERTO MORIN (Mexico)

AR2:         MARCO BISGUERRA (Mexico)

4TH:         ADONAI ESCOBEDO (Mexico)

Trinidad and Tobago vs. Guatemala

The day in Group A then concludes with a huge affair between group leaders Trinidad and Tobago and third-place Guatemala at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The Soca Warriors were the only team from League A to emerge from the September window with six points from their two matches, putting them in position to clinch a top-two finish in October.

If Trinidad and Tobago are able to defeat Guatemala and Martinique drop points against El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago will have secured a top-two finish and a place in the quarterfinals.

Trinidad and Tobago won their opener 1-0 over Curacao thanks to a late winner from debutante Nathaniel James before collecting another three points in a wild 3-2 comeback win in El Salvador with Justin Garcia bagging the winning goal.

Guatemala have also impressed, earning a 2-0 home win versus El Salvador on goals from Carlos Mejia and Pedro Altan and then going toe-to-toe with Panama in a 1-1 draw, with Oscar Santis providing a second half equalizer.

This will be the 27th all-time meeting between the two sides, with Trinidad and Tobago owning a slight edge at 9W-8D-8L. Their last match-up was a June 2023 friendly that resulted in a 1-0 victory for Trinidad and Tobago.

Referees Trinidad & Tobago vs Guatemala

REF:         IVAN BARTON (El Salvador)

AR1:         DAVID MORAN (El Salvador)

AR2:         HENRI PUPIRO (Nicaragua)

4TH:         FILIBERTO MARTINEZ (El Salvador)