MIAMI.- Aruba are one of the teams that have everything to gain and the least to lose in the Concacaf Nations League.
The Caribbean team finished 22nd and booked the final spot in League B in Concacaf Nations League Qualifying.
Martin Koopman’s side won once, drew once and lost twice but it was their -1 goal difference that inched them above the separation line between League B and C.
Playing their home matches during CNLQ in the neighboring Dutch territory of Curacao, Aruba managed an impressive 3-1 win over Bermuda to open their qualifying campaign.
That strong start was backed by an away point thanks to a scoreless draw at Guadeloupe in matchday two.
Unfortunately, Aruba could not carry that momentum into the final two matchdays. The team suffered a 0-2 home loss to Montserrat and a 3-2 away loss at Saint Lucia.
Aruba didn’t have one particular player carrying the load of the goalscoring responsibilities, instead it was a team effort. Their five goals came from Raymond Baten, Ronald Gomez, Josh Gross, Joshua John and Erik Santos de Gouveia.
Aruba are paired in Group C with Jamaica, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda.
During the September international dates, Aruba will open CNL play at home against Guyana before traveling to Antigua and Barbuda for the second matchday.
An away and home series against Jamaica await them in October before facing their September foes again in November.
