Antuna, McKennie among top goal threats in CNLF

MIAMI, Florida – There are certain players who thrive in different tournaments and the same can be said for the Concacaf Nations League in which certain players from Mexico, United States, Costa Rica and Honduras enjoyed prolific goal-scoring performances for their teams in League A of the 2019-20 CNL. With the CNL Finals set for next week, here is a look at some players who already have a knack at finding the back of the net in CNL play. Uriel Antuna, Mexico There is just something about donning a Mexican National Team jersey that turns Antuna into a goal-scoring machine. The 23-year-old has 14 career goals at the international level with El Tricolor , including a pair of goals in the CNL group stage. Antuna scored the opening goal in Mexico’s 5-1 win at Bermuda before supplying the winning score in the 90+3’ in the 2-1 home victory against the islanders. Coming off a three-goal performance at the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship , Antuna will look to increase his CNL goal tally. Weston McKennie, United States McKennie is not known as a pure goalscorer, but he was on target for the U.S. in their CNL campaign with a hat trick in a 7-0 win over Cuba. The 22-year-old MF has a knack of arriving into the area and getting on the end of a cross with either his right foot or head. The Juventus man has a sense of where space will open in front of goal, so opposing defenders will have to be wary about the roving McKennie. Alberth Elis, Honduras Elis finished the group stage of League A with two goals in helping Honduras to a first-place finish in their group with Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique . Both goals for the Boavista man came in the finale against Trinidad and Tobago , the first via the penalty spot with Elis coolly converting the spot kick, followed by a strong right-footed shot for a goal. With his pace and finishing ability, the CNL Finals could be a happy hunting ground for Elis. Francisco Calvo, Costa Rica Calvo is another player who does not necessarily jump out as a goalscorer, but the left back is very capable of finding the back of the net at key moments. Case in point was his goal for the Ticos in the 84’ in the 2-1 win at Curacao giving Costa Rica a massive away win when he spun a header into the top right corner of net for the winning score. He then followed that up by scoring the lone Costa Rican goal in the 1-1 draw with Haiti by heading in a free kick, which assured his side’s place in the CNL Finals.