Dominica, Aruba earn promotion with away victories

MIAMI, Florida – Both Dominica and Aruba clinched promotion to League B after posting away wins on Thursday in League C of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League. British Virgin Islands vs. Dominica Dominica have earned promotion back to League B after defeating British Virgin Islands 2-1 in Group C at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground in Road Town, BVI. With the result, Dominica have won the group with a match to spare. BVI remain in the mix for promotion as the best-ranked second-place team in League C. The first half ended scoreless but there were chances for both. The best for BVI were a Luka Chalwell shot that was saved, while Taylor Scarff had a header tipped over the crossbar by Dominica GK Glenson Prince . Dominica amassed six corner kicks in the first 45 minutes, but the most glaring chance was for Javid George , who had a wide-open right-footed effort glace off the post. Dominica’s pressure finally bore fruit in the 52’, as George played a cut-back pass to Audel Laville , who bounced home a shot for a 1-0 lead. BVI went right to work on finding an equalizer and T’Sharne Gallimore delivered in the 63’ by receiving a pass and then making a slick cut before curling a right-footed shot into net to make it 1-1. But back came Dominica in the 68’ to take a 2-1 lead through Eustace Marshall , who was left unmarked in front of goal on a corner kick and easily nodded home a header. Dominica fended off a late BVI charge to nail down the precious three points and secure their place in League B.

US Virgin Islands vs. Aruba Aruba are on their way back to League B thanks to their 4-1 triumph over United States Virgin Islands in Group B at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in Saint Croix, USVI. The victory gives Aruba nine points and three matches, five points ahead of second-place Cayman Islands, thus sealing Aruba’s promotion. It was an ideal start for Aruba, who grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 23’ through Jaydon Dania , who tapped in a cross from Benjamin Maria . Aruba kept their foot on the gas, and they would double the advantage before halftime and it came in sensational fashion, as Rovien Ostiana launched a shot from over 50 yards out that sailed over the head of USVI GK Dylan Ramos and into net for a 2-0 Aruba lead. USVI came out strong to start the second half and they pulled to within a goal at 2-1 in the 47’ on a well-placed free kick taken by Zahmyre Harris and a powerful header into net from Quinn Farrell. Aruba were unfazed and struck right back in the 52’ to restore their two-goal advantage at 3-1, with Maria once again playing the role of playmaker with a dashing run into the USVI area and crossing for Ostiana to score. Aruba then tacked on a late score to cement the three points, with Maria stroking in a penalty in the 79’ to round out the 4-1 scoreline.