MIAMI, Florida – The first week of action in the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup continues on Thursday with a pair of matches in Group A and an all-Dominican Republic battle in Group B.
Moca FC vs. Port of Spain
The day starts off with Moca FC of the Dominican Republic facing Port of Spain from Trinidad and Tobago in Group A at the Estadio Moca 85 in Moca, Dominican Republic.
This will be Moca’s first ever appearance in a Concacaf tournament and they are the fourth different club from the Dominican Republic to participate in Concacaf competition. Moca qualified as one of the non-champions with the best aggregate record over the last year in the Dominican Republic.
Port of Spain has twice been champion of Trinidad and Tobago, in 2004 and 2017, and qualified for this tournament as the first-place team in the Premier League of Trinidad and Tobago.
Match Officials
REF: STEFFON DEWAR (Jamaica)
AR1: MELVIN REID (Jamaica)
AR2: JERMAINE YEE SING (Jamaica)
4TH: CHRISTOPHER MASON (Jamaica)
Defence Force vs. Cavalier FC
The second contest in Group A will see former Concacaf champion Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago taking on Cavalier of Jamaica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Defence Force captured Concacaf Champions Cup crowns in 1978 and 1985 and were also winners of the 2001 CFU Club Championship. Overall, Defence Force have 13 Concacaf Champions Cup appearances to their name and an all-time record of 23W-9D-18 in the tournament.
Defence Force are back in Concacaf competition thanks to their second-place finish in the Trinidad and Tobago Premier League and will meet 2021 Jamaican National Premier League champions Cavalier, who qualified as the third-place team from their domestic league in 2022.
Cavalier appeared in the 2022 Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship and will aim for a deeper run in this new Caribbean competition in 2023.
Match Officials
REF: SHAVIN GREENE (Guyana)
AR1: KLEON LINDEY (Guyana)
AR2: JADEN ROUSE (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
4TH: EVENS JULMIS (Bahamas)
Cibao FC vs Atletico Pantoja
The nightcap will see a battle of teams from the Dominican Republic in Group B, as Cibao FC take on Atletico Pantoja at the Estadio Cibao in Santiago de los Caballeros.
Both sides have been active participants in Concacaf competition in the last five years, with Cibao playing in the 2018 Concacaf Champions Cup and Atletico Pantoja featuring in the 2019 and 2021 editions.
Both teams also competed in the Concacaf League, so they will be unfazed by the bright lights of a Concacaf night.
These two teams met in league play last Wednesday and it was a celebratory night for Atletico Pantoja with a 3-0 victory on goals from Gerard Lavergne, Robert Rosado and Armando Vargas.
Match Officials
REF: REON RADIX (Grenada)
AR1: GRAEME BROWNE (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
AR2: CLENTON DANIEL (Grenada)
4TH: MCMANAMAN BEDEAU (Grenada)
