MIAMI -   World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 got underway in the Concacaf region on Wednesday, with Saint Kitts and Nevis able to hold off Puerto Rico for a 1-0 victory at the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic.


St. Kitts and Nevis 1 Puerto Rico 0 

As an evenly fought first half was drawing to a close, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Vinceroy Nelson was able to find the back of the net in the 42nd minute. Puerto Rico manager Dave Sarachan, making his debut, made modifications to his midfield as El Huracán Azul pushed for an equalizer with Alec Día and Jan Mateo coming into the contest, but no one was able to beat Saint Kitts and Nevis GK Julani Archibald. The Sugar Boyz got strong showings from debutant Andre Burley and captain Raheem Somersall and now turn their attention to the Bahamas, while Puerto Rico look to bounce back in a home match with Trinidad and Tobago.

Suriname 3 Cayman Islands 0 

Suriname started qualification with a 3-0 win over the Cayman Islands. Suriname’s first goal came from a free kick with Shaquille Pinas crashing the box and getting a head on a free kick from Roland Alberg. Ryan Donk, wearing the captain’s armband in his first game for Suriname, doubled the lead in the 39th minute, converting a penalty. The home side continued to delight the fans in Paramaribo, controlling the match and eventually getting a third as Gleofilo Vlijter finished a team move.

Antigua and Barbuda 2 Montserrat 2

Antigua and Barbuda headed into the halftime break level with Montserrat with two goals each after a thrilling first half, but neither team was able to find another goal as the contest ended level, 2-2. Montserrat FW Lyle Taylor opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the seventh minute, only for Eugene Kirwan to pull one back in the 23rd minute. Three minutes later Taylor once again found the back of the net, but D’Andre Bishop’s goal just before the half meant the teams ended up sharing the points.

Dominican Republic 1 Dominica 0 

The Dominican Republic edged past Dominica 1-0 with a goal from Fran Nunez in the 52nd minute. A pass from Jean Carlos Lopez unlocked the Dominica defense and Ronaldo Vasquez set up Nunez for the goal that allowed the home side to get through by the minimum advantage.

 

Guatemala 1 Cuba 0

The night closed with Guatemala getting past Cuba, 1-0. A set piece into the box fell at the feet of Luis Martinez in the 60th minute, and the Guastatoya attacker made no mistake.

Kevin Espino was given a direct red card for a tackle shortly after, complicating Cuba’s hopes of getting back into the contest.

Cuba now turns its attention to a date with Curacao, while Guatemala’s next contest comes against the British Virgin Islands.