MIAMI, Florida – Both Belize and Curacao are poised to win their respective groups, as the Road to W Gold Cup continues with a trio of matches on Thursday in League C.
Aruba vs. Turks and Caicos Islands
The day gets started at the Guillermo P. Trinidad Stadium in Oranjestad, as home side Aruba welcome in Turks and Caicos Islands in Group A.
Aruba are still in the running in the group, despite being six points back of leaders Belize. A full three points would place pressure on Belize to secure a result later in the day.
Turks and Caicos Islands sit on one point after four matches and would like to spoil Aruba’s chances by earning a first RTWGC victory.
In their first meeting, Aruba collected a 5-0 win with Aisse Gumbs bagging a brace. Gumbs has three goals in the campaign, while Vanessa Susanna and Bonny Lammers have combined for six goals and an assist.
Turks and Caicos Islands will once again rely on GK Eridania Medina, who leads the RTWGC with 39 saves and also stopped a penalty kick in the previous window.
Turks and Caicos Islands will also need attacking players Rosaria Talbot and Kadine Delphin to get firing to try to score the team’s first goal of the campaign.
Which League C group leaders will remain at the top? pic.twitter.com/mwWMoyHcK3
— W Gold Cup (@GoldCup) November 27, 2023
Anguilla vs. Curacao
Curacao can nail down a first-place finish in Group D with a win versus Anguilla at the Raymond E. Guishard Stadium in The Valley, Anguilla.
Curacao have six points through their first two matches, including a 5-2 home win against Anguilla, and can secure the top spot in the group with a win.
Taisha Hansen, Sadeyah Rosa and Julainy Fanijten have starred for Curacao in their two games. Hansen has two goals and two assists; Rosa has a pair of goals and an assist and Fanijten has been steady in goal with seven saves and six clearances.
Fanijten’s counterpart in the Anguilla net, Esther Ward, has been solid as well, with eight saves and nine clearances. Up top, Carlia Johnson leads the team in scoring with three goals, while Camile Gumbs has a goal and an assist.
Bonaire vs. Belize
The day concludes with Belize visiting Bonaire in Group A at the Stadion Antonio Trenidat in Rincon, Bonaire.
Should Aruba drop points earlier in the day against Turks and Caicos Islands, Belize will have already won the group before they kick off, however, the Central Americans will be keen to maintain their perfect record in the tournament.
Belize have posted a 4W-0D-0L record while outscoring opponents 14-0. No matter what happens in Aruba, a draw at minimum would be enough for Belize to win the group.
The first meeting between the two sides ended with a 3-0 win for Belize in which Mikhaila Bowden scored and Khalydia Velasquez had a brace. Those two players have four goals each thus far in this RTWGC, while Kaite Jones also has a pair of goals.
Bonaire will turn to Bibi Wijnschenk and Samanta Molina for attacking inspiration. Wijnschenk has two goals, while Molina has registered six shots on target.
