St Lucia, St Maarten, Grenada, and Haiti kicked off their 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League B campaigns with victories on Friday, showcasing a mix of dominant performances and closely contested matches to set the tone for their respective groups.
In Group B action at Kirani James Athletics Stadium, Grenada eased past St Martin with a 2-0 win, while St Lucia edged out Curacao 2-1 in a tightly contested battle.
St Lucia vs. Curaçao
St Lucia emerged victorious in their first-ever Nations League encounter with Curacao, showcasing a superior performance. Arkell Jude-Boyd opened the scoring for St Lucia in the 24th minute, battling through a defender before slotting the ball through the legs of Curacao’s goalkeeper Eloy Room. St Lucia maintained their lead heading into halftime.
Jude-Boyd came close to doubling the advantage early in the second half, but Room denied him with a crucial save. However, St Lucia would not be denied their second, as Caniggia Elva finished off a loose ball in the 55th minute to put them 2-0 ahead. Curacao fought back, reducing the deficit in the 63rd minute when Joshua Brenet latched onto a pass from Leandro Bacuna to make it 2-1, but St Lucia held on for the win.
St Maarten vs. Aruba
In Group C, St Maarten overcame a resilient Aruba side with a late surge, securing a 2-0 victory at Estadio Centroamericano in Puerto Rico. Both teams struggled to break the deadlock for most of the match, with goalkeepers Tyrell Richardson and Matthew Lentink keeping their respective sides in the contest.
It wasn’t until the 81st minute that Gerwin Lake finally broke through for St Maarten, rifling a shot past Lentink. Ronan Olivacce added a second in stoppage time, tapping in from Chovanie Amatkarijo’s pass to seal the win.
St Martin vs. Grenada
Grenada wasted no time in asserting their dominance over St Martin, taking the lead just five minutes into the match. Lucas Akins capitalized on a defensive error to put Grenada ahead. Regan Charles-Cook then doubled the lead in the 38th minute, tucking home from close range to secure the victory. St Martin attempted to mount a comeback, but Grenada’s defense and goalkeeper Chad Phillip proved impenetrable, ensuring the 2-0 result.
Puerto Rico vs. Haiti
Haiti, relegated from League A last season, made a strong statement in their opening match against Puerto Rico, cruising to a 4-1 victory. Despite Puerto Rico taking the lead in the 29th minute through Gerald Diaz’s rebound, Haiti came roaring back in the second half.
Danley Jean Jacques leveled the match in the 51st minute, and Frantzdy Pierrot added a second goal in the 60th minute, bringing his Nations League tally to eight goals. Haiti continued their onslaught, with Don Louicius finishing off a well-executed team move in the 76th minute to make it 3-1. Duckens Nazon capped the dominant performance with an 83rd-minute strike, putting Haiti on track for a return to League A.
By Ian Burnett
St Lucia, St Maarten, Grenada, and Haiti kicked off their 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League B campaigns with victories on Friday, showcasing a mix of dominant performances and closely contested matches to set the tone for their respective groups.
In Group B action at Kirani James Athletics Stadium, Grenada eased past St Martin with a 2-0 win, while St Lucia edged out Curacao 2-1 in a tightly contested battle.
St Lucia vs. Curaçao
St Lucia emerged victorious in their first-ever Nations League encounter with Curacao, showcasing a superior performance. Arkell Jude-Boyd opened the scoring for St Lucia in the 24th minute, battling through a defender before slotting the ball through the legs of Curacao’s goalkeeper Eloy Room. St Lucia maintained their lead heading into halftime.
Jude-Boyd came close to doubling the advantage early in the second half, but Room denied him with a crucial save. However, St Lucia would not be denied their second, as Caniggia Elva finished off a loose ball in the 55th minute to put them 2-0 ahead. Curacao fought back, reducing the deficit in the 63rd minute when Joshua Brenet latched onto a pass from Leandro Bacuna to make it 2-1, but St Lucia held on for the win.
St Maarten vs. Aruba
In Group C, St Maarten overcame a resilient Aruba side with a late surge, securing a 2-0 victory at Estadio Centroamericano in Puerto Rico. Both teams struggled to break the deadlock for most of the match, with goalkeepers Tyrell Richardson and Matthew Lentink keeping their respective sides in the contest.
It wasn’t until the 81st minute that Gerwin Lake finally broke through for St Maarten, rifling a shot past Lentink. Ronan Olivacce added a second in stoppage time, tapping in from Chovanie Amatkarijo’s pass to seal the win.
St Martin vs. Grenada
Grenada wasted no time in asserting their dominance over St Martin, taking the lead just five minutes into the match. Lucas Akins capitalized on a defensive error to put Grenada ahead. Regan Charles-Cook then doubled the lead in the 38th minute, tucking home from close range to secure the victory. St Martin attempted to mount a comeback, but Grenada’s defense and goalkeeper Chad Phillip proved impenetrable, ensuring the 2-0 result.
Puerto Rico vs. Haiti
Haiti, relegated from League A last season, made a strong statement in their opening match against Puerto Rico, cruising to a 4-1 victory. Despite Puerto Rico taking the lead in the 29th minute through Gerald Diaz’s rebound, Haiti came roaring back in the second half.
Danley Jean Jacques leveled the match in the 51st minute, and Frantzdy Pierrot added a second goal in the 60th minute, bringing his Nations League tally to eight goals. Haiti continued their onslaught, with Don Louicius finishing off a well-executed team move in the 76th minute to make it 3-1. Duckens Nazon capped the dominant performance with an 83rd-minute strike, putting Haiti on track for a return to League A.
