For the next part of the CONCACAF Nations League overview, we shift our attention to League B. Competition is elevated, results and games are closer for the most part. Most importantly, automatic Gold Cup places are at stake, so every result matters. Unlike in League C, nobody’s places have been solidified and promotion/relegation battles rage all through the groups. Nobody’s safe just yet, which is why League B has been fun to cover.
Group A
First and foremost: no draws. This group only believes in winning and losing so far through 16 total games played. Well, except for Barbados, who have no points to show for their efforts.
Antigua and Barbuda looked early on as the surprise favorites to take the group before Cuba and Guadeloupe got going. A couple 1-0 wins against Barbados and Guadeloupe had us applauding their defensive fortitude before Cuba finally got their crack against them, scoring 5 goals in back to back meetings. Arichel Hernández has been their talisman, scoring 4 goals which includes a hat-trick against the Benna Boyz of Antigua and Barbuda. Guadeloupe’s three wins have come in part to Thierry Ambrose’s three goals in 3 games. It also helps when the majority of your squad has ties to France and have been playing in Ligue 2.
Barbados has been the doormat of Group A to say the least. One goal and 7 allowed just isn’t going to cut it. The talent disparity is obvious and Barbados haven’t able to hang with the big boys. They might be able to get a result against Antigua and Barbuda in the next window, but that’s about it. We’ll see them in League C.
Group B
Haiti have set out to prove that they do not belong in League B, and that they should be playing amongst CONCACAF’s elite. After a slow start in a shock 0-0 draw with Bermuda, Haiti jumped all over Montserrat with an early 3-0 lead and held off a late charge to get the W. Then Les Grenadiers proceeded to blitzkrieg Guyana’s defense with 12 goals in back to back games. Haiti’s back line is susceptible to be scored on but they make up for it in its potent attack.
No Duckens Nazon or Frantzdy Pierrot? Or young stars like Ronaldo Damus or Louis Don Deeson? No problem! Carnejy Antoine has been causing carnage with 4 goals, with Derrick Ettienne, Mondy Prunier and Steeven Saba also contributing. The Gold Cup will be awaiting Haiti next season.
The rest of the group is practically a toss-up. Group A is still open even with Bermuda bringing up the rear. Good news for Guyana: they don’t have to see Haiti for the rest of Group B. Despite Guyana’s heavy losses, they may still be the best of the rest. Lyle Taylor and Montserrat continue their underdog fight, going toe-to-toe with everyone in the group, even showing resilience against Haiti. After surprising Haiti, Bermuda haven’t been able to come out on the right side of games. Their game against Montserrat had to be cancelled (only Bermuda and CONCACAF know why and its unsure if they game will be rescheduled). Dante Leverock did however give us a nominee for Goal of the Tournament against Guyana:
DANTE BROUGHT HIS BIKE TO THE GAME!!! 🚲🤯🔥
— Unveil+ (@unveilplus) June 7, 2022
🎥: @FlowSportsApp #OneSportingCaribbean #CNL #CNL22 #LoveForOurGame #Bermuda #BermudaFA pic.twitter.com/IUXr8BPqYJ
It will be a close finish in this group to see who stays in Group B and who gets relegated. Haiti having to play Montserrat and Bermuda could help Guyana’s cause. Montserrat and Bermuda could also upset Haiti and make a case for that Gold Cup prelim spot. Even Haiti could miss out on promotion if they don’t solve their defensive issues. Probably the most exciting of the remaining groups, given all the possible outcomes.
Group C
Group C currently asks two questions: “Who will be promoted?” and “Who will be relegated”. Thanks to a deluge and some faulty electricity, Nicaragua has the advantage over Trinidad & Tobago in the group, but since then they have asserted their dominance over the other two teams. It took some time however.
After Nicaragua’s win, they actually drew 2-2 with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the efforts of the Bahamas’ Julio Jameson limited T&T to a 1-0 victory. After that, they both beat up on their next opponents, with the Soca Warriors dousing the flames of the Vincy Heat with 6 goals in two games, and Nicaragua doing the same against the Bahamas.
Jaime Moreno has been the main man for Nicaragua in the attacking third. Byron Bonilla and Matias Moldskred followed suit, and are currently top of the group because of them. T&T have been finding goals from unlikely sources. Apart from the star man Levi Garcia, defensive mid Neveal Hackshaw scored the first two goals for them; Shannon Gomez, the left back, scored a stunner in Nicaragua (turned out to be a Nicaraguan OG); Noah Powder has been a revelation as a wide attacker. Both teams are safe from relegation and the return leg in Port-of-Spain could be the exciting group finale to see who goes up.
For St. Vincent and the Bahamas, its a fight to see who stays up. So far the Bahamas holds the advantage over St. Vincent thanks to their 1-0 win at home but it’s been a rough go for both squads since then. Again the reverse fixture will be the pivotal game for either team to see who stays in League B.
Group D
French Guiana have been building off the previous Nations League season. They were a penalty shootout away from qualifying for Gold Cup last year. The COVID pandemic halted the progress. And I STILL didn’t see them being on top of this group with Guatemala present after 4 games.
They had to EARN their results too! After upsetting Guatemala 2-0 in their opening game, they came back from 2-1 deficit to beat the Dominican Republic 3-2. They had 2 goals taken back against Belize and still managed to get a point. In the 2nd Belize game, it took 80 mins for them to find the 1-0 win. Joel Serrucco has scored in every single game for them so far. If they could handle business in the next year’s window, they could return to the Gold Cup for the first time since 2017. They’ve just been exciting to watch.
Guatemala managed to get back into form with wins against Belize and the Dominican Republic. Their goals have been due to poor play from other teams instead of positive play from them, for the most part. The beat Belize thanks to an own goal and a penalty. Rubio Rubin had help with his brace thanks in part to a Domincan Republic penalty. If Guatemala want to get back to League A, they have to capitalize on self-made chances. Their big game against French Guiana on the final match day could make or break them.
The Dominican Republic have been developing their football for a while now and it was hopeful that they could push for a Gold Cup spot. A 2-0 win over lowly Belize saw them heading in the right direction and could have done better against French Guiana if it wasn’t for a late game collapse. They only managed to garner 1 point in 2 matches against early favorites Guatemala. Goals from veteran Jean Carlos López and teenage project Nowend Lorenzo represent production from a balanced squad of relatively young players (3 are over 30). Their chances of advancing are slim, but it’ll be interesting to see where DR goes in the future.
Belize’s dreams of promotion had been thwarted early but they can prove to play spoiler for Guatemala and/or the Dominican Republic in the next window. They’ll more of a match for D.R. than Guatemala. It would be huge if they could stay in League B but they’ll need more from their attackers if they’re looking to survive the drop.
Coming up next: League A Battle Royal. Draws, Brawls and Close Calls. CONCACAF’s Goliaths are having some trouble against some Davids.