Friday’s CONCACAF Nations League: Grenada vs USA, Bahamas vs Trinidad & Tobago, Nicaragua vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize vs Guatemala and Anguilla vs Saint Lucia.
📰 Table Of Contents
Grenada vs United States
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The United States are in limbo right now, but still need points in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Anthony Hudson is currently in interim charge, after Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired on New Years’ Eve.
No new manager has been appointed, with Hudson set to remain in charge for a little while yet.
Two years ago, USA became the inaugural Nations League winners, beating Mexico 3-2 in a thrilling final.
So far this time round, they have four points on the board, having smashed Grenada 5-0 in Austin, before a 1-1 draw with El Salvador.
With a game against El Salvador in Orlando to come on Monday, USA require four points from these two fixtures to take top spot, booking their place in the finals.
Grenada meanwhile won promotion from League B in 2019, but are set to make an immediate return to the second-tier.
Mohammad Kwid’s side have just one point on the board, holding El Salvador to a 2-2 draw when they met in St George’s.
The Spice Boys qualified for the most-recent Gold Cup, their first appearance for a decade, but will need to go through June’s prelims to get there again.
The United States have won all four previous meetings with Grenada, scoring 15 goals, with that trend set to continue at Kirani James Athletic Stadium.
Bahamas vs Trinidad and Tobago
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Can Trinidad & Tobago keep alive their hopes of being promoted back to League A?
It’s been a tough few years for the Soca Warriors, suffering Nations League relegation before being eliminated from World Cup qualifying by minnows St. Kitts and Nevis.
T&T then lost their group opener against Nicaragua, but have since won three in a row, including a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture.
So, Angus Eve’s side remain one point below Nicaragua, with the top two going head-to-head in the final matchday.
That makes a victory here for Trinidad & Tobago of vital importance.
Bahamas meanwhile beat Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in their opener, before losing all three matches.
They’re simply seeking to retain their League B status, with an away win likely at Thomas Robinson Stadium.
Nicaragua vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Will Nicaragua ensure they remain top ahead of the final matchday?
So far, la Azul y Blanco have won three out of four in this group, their sole slip up actually coming in the reverse fixture that finished 2-2.
Marco Antonio Figueroa’s team therefore sit in first place, one point above Trinidad & Tobago.
Those two meet in Bacolet on Monday, meaning Nicaragua need a win here to ensure they’ll go into that crucial clash still in front.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in complete contrast, have lost all three matches aside from the reverse fixture.
This leaves Kendale Mercury’s side bottom of Group C, on the cusp of being relegated to the bottom-tier.
An emphatic home win is expected at Estadio Nacional de fútbol de Nicaragua.
Belize vs Guatemala
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Can Guatemala remain on track for back-to-back promotions?
Since losing in French Guinea on matchday one, los Chapines are unbeaten in this competition, amassing seven points.
This includes a 2-0 victory when Belize visited Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in June.
However, Luis Fernando Tena’s side remain three points below French Guinea, with the two meeting in Guatemala City on Monday.
If la Azul y Blanco are to remain in contention for promotion, as well as automatic Gold Cup qualification, this is must win.
A Guatemalan victory seems likely, given that Belize have just a solitary point on the board so far.
The Jaguars have now won just two of ten League B fixtures in the history of this competition, so look set to drop into the lowest division.
An away win seems likely at FFB Stadium.
Anguilla vs Saint Lucia
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Will Saint Lucia’s perfect record in this group continue?
Despite only having played two of four fixtures, Stern John’s team have already secured promotion to League B.
Back in June, St. Lucia beat Dominica 1-0 before a 2-0 victory over Anguilla in the reverse fixture.
So, they’ll make an instant return to the second-tier, and will feature in the Gold Cup prelims in the summer, seeking to qualify for the very first time.
Anguilla meanwhile did hold Dominica to a pair of draws, but have still only ever won two of 54 competitive internationals, the most-recent of which came in October 2010.
Expect a routine away win at Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre.
