Race to W Gold Cup Prelims heats up for Guyana, Suriname

MIAMI. - The closing stretch of the Road to W Gold Cup tournament features four encounters in League B on Wednesday.

Guyana leads Group A with nine points followed by Suriname with six. Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica are third and fourth, respectively, on four points, but will have a chance to fight for the top spot.

Group B will be all about competitive pride as El Salvador have clinched the top spot and the ticket to the W Gold Cup Prelims. Honduras and Martinique each have four points, while Nicaragua looks to avoid finishing last.

Antigua and Barbuda vs. Suriname

Antigua and Barbuda welcome Suriname at the ABFA Technical Center in Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda.

The two nations previously meet in a tightly-contested match last September. An Andaya Lantveld goal from the penalty spot was the difference in Suriname taking the full three points.

Suriname is looking for three points that could put it back in first place depending on the Dominica-Guyana result. Antigua and Barbuda must win, and await the result of the other group encounter, to have a chance of finishing first and advancing to the playoffs.

Gabrielle De Suza leads Antigua and Barbuda in scoring with two goals with Nicelle Drew adding another. Lantveld leads the Suriname frontline with two herself, while Katoucha Patra, Orthea Riley, Shamaira Stekkinger have one apiece.

Dominica vs. Guyana

Dominica hosts Guyana at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Guyana took a 5-0 home victory over Dominica in the previous meeting between the teams last September. Jalade Trim and Otesha Charles scored twice, while Brianne Desa converted from the penalty spot in that encounter.

A victory would inch Guyana closer to the Prelims ticket for the W Gold Cup, with a Suriname draw or loss enough to help the Lady Jags clinch the top spot. Dominica must win to keep its hopes alive for first place.

Starr Humphreys has two goals for Dominica and will be the star woman in attack. Otesha Charles leads Guyana’s attack with three goals in the current campaign.

Nicaragua vs. Honduras 

Nicaragua meets Honduras at the Independencia Stadium in Estelí, Nicaragua.

These two nations fought to a 1-1 draw in their previous meeting during the second matchday. Diana Lopez scored in the first half before Barbara Murillo rescued a home point in the final stretch of that encounter.

Lopez and Yessenia Flores have scored the only goals for Nicaragua, who is out to collect its first win of the tournament. Honduras is looking to break a three-match winless streak after a winning start to its campaign thanks to a brace from top scorer Lesbia Puerto.

Martinique vs. El Salvador

Martinique and El Salvador square off at the Pierre-Aliker Stadium in Fort-de-France, Martinique.

El Salvador is a perfect 4-0-0 through its opening four encounters, including a 9-1 victory over Martinique in September. Samaria Gomez, Brenda Ceren, Danya Gutierrez each secured a brace in that previous meeting. Gomez and Gutierrez, along with Danielle Fuentes, lead the nation with four goals each.

Martinique is undefeated in consecutive encounters after a win and draw with Nicaragua. Prisca Carin, Ludmila Gaydu and Maeva Salomon have found the back of the net for Martinique.