MIAMI, Florida – The 2023 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship in Guatemala kicked off on Saturday with Mexico, Canada, United States and Panama all carving out opening day victories.
GROUP E
Mexico got the action going in Group E at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala with a 9-0 win over Curacao.
Eight different players found the back of the net for El Tricolor, with Stephano Carrillo leading the way with a brace (23’, 45’). Joining Carrillo on the scoresheet were Gael Alvarez (2’), Isaac Martinez (14’), Fidel Barajas (17’), Alex Valencia (72’), Joaquin Moxica (86’), Jose Urias (89’) and Jose Arroyo (90+2’).
The nightcap in Group E was a battle of Central American sides with Panama edging Guatemala 1-0 on a Kevin Walder goal in the 16’ via a header off a cross from the left.
GROUP F
The Estadio Pensativo in Antigua was the venue for the teams in Group F on Saturday, starting
with a duel between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago in which the North Americans held off the Soca Warriors in a 3-2 final.
2019 Under-13 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League star Kyler Vojvodic gave the Canadians a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 27’. Chimere Omeze doubled the advantage to 2-0 in the 61’, but the Caribbean side answered right back in in the 67’ through Malachi Webb to make it 2-1.
But Vojvodic had an answer of his own and restored the two-goal advantage, 3-1, just a minute later in the 68’. It was a one-goal game again in the 81’ when Lindell Sween scored for Trinidad and Tobago, but the Canadian defense held on the rest of the way to secure the three points, 3-2.
Cruz Medina was the star of the day for the U.S. in their opening match with Barbados. The San Jose Earthquakes product scored in the 25’ and 43’, the latter on an exquisite shot from long distance, to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead.
Keyrol Figueroa and Taha Habroune added late goals in the 86’ and 89’ to make it 4-0, before Medina tacked on a last-minute score in the 90+3’ to complete the 5-0 scoreline.
Next matches
The teams in Group E and Group F action will return to the field of play on Monday, with Curacao hoping to get their first result of the tournament in Group E when they take on Panama at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores.
The Canaleros hold a slim 2W-1D-1L edge all-time, but their last encounter was a thrilling 3-3 draw in the 2019 edition.
Mexico will then try to make it two wins in two games in the group when they face a Guatemala team seeking a rebound after an opening loss to Panama. In five all-time CMU17 matches between the two sides, Mexico have five victories. Group F will return to the Estadio Pensativo, beginning with Barbados going up against Canada.
The Bajan Tridents were a stiff opponent for the U.S. in their opening match and will try to keep
another North American side in check.
Vojvodic’s timely scores helped Canada secure three points against Trinidad and Tobago and now another tough Caribbean foe awaits. In two CMU17 meetings, Canada have two wins, including a 4-0 final in the previous edition in 2019.
The day will then wrap up with the U.S. taking on Trinidad and Tobago in the 10th CMU17 meeting between the two nations. The U.S. hold a 5W-3D-1L advantage in the series and will hope to get another big performance from Medina, who had a hat trick in the opening win versus
Barbados.
