MIAMI. – Puerto Rico and Guyana face off in a battle of undefeated teams as the 2023–24 Concacaf Nations League continues with two encounters in Group D of League B on Saturday.
Off to a six-point start, Puerto Rico and Guyana take part in the first of back-to-back encounters that could decide the top of the group. Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda, meanwhile, look for their first points and a break into the top half of the standings.
Puerto Rico vs. Guyana
Puerto Rico hosts Guyana at the SKNFA Training Center in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The Puerto Rican offense was rolling on all cylinders in Septembers with a 6-1 victory over the Bahamas followed by 5-0 win over Antigua and Barbuda. Joel Burgos and Gerald Diaz had hat-trick performances, with the latter leading the scoring list with four to his tally.
Guyana’s attack was also firing in a 5-1 opening win at Antigua and Barbuda followed by a 3-2 home victory over Bahamas. Omari Glasgow continued his ascent from the previous CNL campaign and is tied with Burgos on four goals apiece.
This match will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the two nations. Puerto Rico has won twice, including the most recent encounter, a 2-0 victory, on June 8, 2021 in the Concacaf qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Referees Puerto Rico vs Guyana
REF: ISMAEL CORNEJO (El Salvador)
AR1: JUAN FRANCISCO ZUMBA (El Salvador)
AR2: GEOVANY GARCIA (El Salvador)
4TH: MELVIN MATAMOROS (Honduras)
Bahamas vs. Antigua and Barbuda
The Bahamas plays host to Antigua and Barbuda at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
Christopher Rahming scored a goal from long-range to start the Bahamas CNL campaign and Wood Julmis went two-for-two from the penalty spot in the team’s second match, a 3-2 loss at Guyana. Those two will be key players as the Bahamas looks to get its first win of the tournament.
Raheem Deterville has the lone goal of this campaign for Antigua and Barbuda, who will look to rebound after the break with its first points. Young goalkeeper Zaieem Scott, 19, showed a big improvement with seven saves against Puerto Rico.
The only previous meeting between these two nations came in the qualification for the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League. Antigua and Barbuda took a six-goal victory with a hat-trick from Myles Weston, a Calaum Jahraldo-Martin brace and a goal from Peter Byers.
Referees Bahamas vs Antigua & Barbuda
REF: SERGIO REYNA (Guatemala)
AR1: WILLIAM ARRIETA (Costa Rica)
AR2: JUAN TIPAZ (Guatemala)
4TH: JULIO LUNA (Guatemala)
(concacaf.com)
