MIAMI, Florida – The second matches for the teams in Group A of the 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship Qualifiers were on the docket Thursday morning at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where Bonaire and Bermuda stayed unbeaten with wins, while Guyana picked up their first victory.
Bonaire made it two wins out of two by edging British Virgin Islands 2-1. Freadyen Michiel handed Bonaire a 1-0 lead in the 8’ with the game’s opening goal, but soon things were back on level terms in the 32’ when Johnny-jay Rowe tallied for British Virgin Islands.
But Bonaire would strike right back just three minutes later in the 35’ through Rhiordan Piar, whose goal stood up as the match-winner.
Bermuda were big winners on the day, as they downed Saint Martin 9-0. Xahvi Deroza scored a hat trick (10’, 24’, 40’), while Malachai Belboda added a brace (71’, 90+4’) to lead the way for the Gombey Warriors. Also getting their names on the scoresheet were Hayden Dill (13’), Paris-mitchell Robinson (47’) and Jutorre Burgess (59’), on top of a Saint Martin own goal (84’).
Guyana picked up their first win of the tournament by defeating Bahamas 4-0. A Bahamas own goal in the 4’ gave the Golden Jaguars a 1-0 lead, and they would tack on another three scores via a Bryan Wharton brace (9’, 30’) and Christopher Whitter goal (18’).
The teams in Group B and Group D return to the fold on Friday, beginning in Group B at the IMG Academy.
Anguilla will make their 2022 CMU17Q debut against a Puerto Rico side that is coming fresh off a 16-0 win versus US Virgin Islands, while the USVI will look to regroup against Aruba, who topped Martinique 2-1 in their opener.
Puerto Rico claimed both previous CMU17Q encounters with Anguilla, winning 5-0 in 2006 and then 8-0 in 2019. As for USVI and Aruba, Friday’s contest will be their first CMU17Q meeting.
The action returns to the Estadio Nacional in Managua, Nicaragua with the second matches in Group D.
After drawing 1-1 in their opener versus Belize, Antigua and Barbuda will be aiming for their first victory against a Turks and Caicos Islands side keen to rebound from an opening loss to Nicaragua. In the nightcap, hosts Nicaragua will try to make it six points from two games against Belize.
It is the first ever CMU17Q meeting between Antigua and Barbuda and Turks and Caicos Islands, while Nicaragua emerged victorious in their previous lone CMU17Q encounter with Belize, a 2-1 final in 2016.
