Nicaragua stay atop the table using headers to down Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas – Nicaragua extended their unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory over Bahamas in Group C of League B of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.

From the start, the Nicaraguan offense went on the attack. Byron Bonilla, his nation's top CNL goal scorer with four, looked to extend his goal tally with chances in the 12th, 13th and 16th minutes. Brayan Lopez was right there in the mix as well with three shots of his own in the first half. 

As the Central Americans continued to press forward, the opening goal drew closer and they would take the lead thanks to a header from Jaime Moreno in the 40th minute. 

A whipped in ball from the right by Henry Nino found the forward inside the box for the exquisite touch to place it into goal for a 1-0 advantage.

The second half began with an equally aggressive Nicaragua, who tested Bahamas as soon as the 47th minute. 

As for the home side, Wood Julmis provided the best chance in the 59th minute as the team from the Caribbean chased the equalizer.

During the middle of the second half, the Bahamas defense fared well to keep the score to the minimum, but Nicaragua reverted back into form in the final moments of the encounter to tack on an insurance goal. 

After a trio of chances late on, the second goal finally arrived off a free kick in second half stoppage time. Bonilla found Matias Moldskred Belli, who provided the well-placed header to secure the three points.

Nicaragua improves its record to 2-1-0 and increases its lead at the top of the group (7 points), to offset a Trinidad and Tobago (6 points) victory earlier in the day. Bahamas are third in the group with an 1-0-2 mark.