MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup continues with Cibao FC hosting Defence Force FC in Group B on Wednesday at Estadio Cibao FC in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
Group winners Cibao FC are coming off a commanding 3-nil win over Juventus des Cayes where Rivaldo Correa became the all-time leading scorer in Caribbean Cup history with nine goals.
Defence Force is on a two-match winless run (1 draw, 1 loss), matching their worst in tournament history. The Trinidadian club is in a three-way tie-on point for second place as they fight for a semifinal spot in the final matchday of the Group Stage.
Cibao FC has won all three of its previous matches against Trinidadian opposition. This will be Defence Force’s second match ever against a Dominican team.
Historical Series
This will be a first-ever meeting between the two clubs in the history of the Caribbean Cup and in any Caribbean international club competition.
Cibao FC will be facing a Trinidad & Tobago club for the fourth time in its history, having won all three of its previous encounters:
- The first win came on May 18, 2017, with a 1-0 victory over Central FC on Matchday 3 of Group A in the Final Round of the CFU Club Championship. Patrick Soko scored the lone goal at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain (TRI).
- Three days later, on May 21, 2017, Cibao FC defeated San Juan Jabloteh 1-0 in the Final of the same tournament. Richard Dabas scored the decisive goal, once again at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
- The third win came on September 24, 2024, during Matchday 4 of Group B in the current Caribbean Cup edition. Cibao FC staged a comeback to defeat Port of Spain 3-2, with goals from Jean Carlos López and a brace from Rivaldo Correa. Shackiel Smek Henry and Jameel Neptune scored for the Trinidadian side.
As for Defence Force, this will be their second-ever match against a club from the Dominican Republic. Their only previous meeting ended in a 2-0 defeat to Moca FC on October 4, 2023, during Matchday 5 of Group A, also at Hasely Crawford Stadium. The goals were scored by Gustavo Ascona and Ronaldo de Peña.
How did they fare in Week 4?
Cibao FC earned a dominant 3-0 win over Juventus des Cayes, with goals from Gabriel Peguero (14’), Rivaldo Correa (42’) and Walter Acuña (53’).
• Rivaldo Correa makes history: With his goal, Correa reached 9 total in the competition, becoming the Concacaf Caribbean Cup’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing both Shaquille Stein (8) and Shaniel Thomas (8).
Defence Force played to a 1-1 home draw with Weymouth Wales FC, with goals from Shaquille Bertrand (45+1’) and Ackeel Applewhaite (79’).
• Winless streak for Defence Force: The Trinidadian side is now on a two-match winless run (1D–1L), matching a similar streak from 2023 when they drew with Port of Spain (1-1) and lost to Moca FC (0-2).
• Home draw with a Historic note: The 1-1 result marked Defence Force’s second home draw in four matches. The club is currently enjoying its first-ever unbeaten home streak in the tournament, with one win and one draw.
