CONCACAF Preliminary Gold Cup Group B Matches

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

CONCACAF Preliminary Gold Cup Group B Matches

 

September 22, 2020

El Salvador v Cuba

 

El Salvador faced Cuba in Group B’s opening match, and Cuba looked dangerous early. They managed the opening goal via Onel Hernández, after striker Luis Paradela’s header off a corner hit the crossbar. The ball fell straight to Hernández, who only needed to tap it in for the opener.

 

El Salvador had other ideas and scored off a corner in a similar fashion. Player of the Match Isaac Portillo managed to race into where the ball was going to land and guided the ball into the back of the net.

 

Arichel Hernández nearly gained back the lead for Cuba, hitting the bottom of the post with sheer force.

 

Cuba had three late chances to score, only for the El Salvadorian goalkeeper to keep them at bay, after a tight tussle in the second half saw neither side grasp the upper hand. El Salvador then could have taken the match in additional time, only to miss key opportunities.

 

In the end, a 1-1 draw was ascertained.

 

El Salvador will look to swap their striker and right back around, while Cuba will keep the same line up.

 

 

September 22, 2020

Suriname v Dominican Republic

 

Suriname took on the Dominican Republic in the hope of starting well. However, an early penalty given away by Damil Dankerlui gifted the Dominican Republicans a chance to take the lead. Enmy Peña made no mistake from the spot, shooting to the left whilst the goalkeeper dived to his left.

 

Dimitrie Apai had the best chances for Suriname in the first half, but all to no avail as their opponents led at the break.

 

Roland Alberg earned Suriname’s second yellow card early in the second half, showing the desperation needed. That desperation culminated in a solo goal for Dankerlui, who weaved from the right wing to snag an equaliser in the 53rd minute.

 

However, the Dominican Republic’s striker, Ronaldo Vásquez, ensured the lead returned to them as he was found with a through ball, and he powered into the back of the net with relative ease.

 

The Dominican Republic made it three goals after Vásquez, again found with a through ball, took a ping, only for it to be halted by the goalkeeper’s foot. However, Manny Rodríguez followed closely behind Vásquez and ensured the ball crashed into the back of the net.

 

From there, the leaders played keepings off, and managed to start off perfectly with the 3-1 victory, and taking top spot in Group B.

 

 

September 27, 2020

El Salvador v Suriname

 

El Salvador swapped their striker and right back around, while Suriname made three changes.

 

Suriname used the wingers that came into the starting eleven early, only to have no success shooting for goal.

 

On the other hand, El Salvador were on target with their attacks, with midfielder Joaquin Rivas provided with a choice pass from Jaime Alas, and he shot low to the left of the Suriname goalkeeper.

 

However, Suriname got their act together, and scored in the 56th minute via Nigel Hasselbaink, who was found beyond the defensive line with a choice through ball.

 

El Salvador’s Davisa Rugamas had a header late that could have won the match, only the Suriname goalkeeper was up to the task. Again, the match ended 1-1, El Salvador’s second match of the same scoreline.

 

El Salvador intended to swap out Molina in defence.

 

 

September 27, 2020

Cuba v Dominican Republic

 

Cuba played for possession across the first half, though that amounted to very little. The only real shots came from Maykel Reyes and Onel Hernández, though the Dominican Republic goalkeeper was up to the task.

 

Cuba maintained the upper hand for much of the second half, only the Dominican Republicans were able to counterattack, resulting in their own shot of the match via Ronaldo Vásquez. Cuba kept attacking, but the Dominican Republic played for possession in the final ten minutes to maintain a scoreless draw going into the final match.

 

 

October 2, 2020

Dominican Republic v El Salvador

 

Both sides traded out a central defender as they sought a victory. The Dominican Republic knew a draw would go a long way, while El Salvador needed a win to have any hope of advancing to the Semi Finals.

 

Shots fired at both ends saw no result as each player felt out their opponents, searching for a weakness. El Salvador utilised runs from the right midfield to penetrate beyond the defence, only for offsides to keep them at bay.

 

However, in the 57th minute, Carlos Heredia scored for the Dominican Republic, stealing the ball off a defender in dangerous territory and curling the ball around the advancing goalkeeper.

 

El Salvador immediately responded, with Andres Flores earning a penalty from a challenge from behind as he advanced on goal. Jairo Henriquez stepped up to the spot kick and shot just to the right of the centre of goal, levelling the match.

 

El Salvador knew they had a chance of winning and played accordingly. However, it was their final passes that let them down. Instead, the Dominican Republic worked the ball around the field, which led to a goal. Ronaldo Vásquez received the ball from the left wing on the edge of the box. Rather than shoot, he turned the ball out to right back and Player of the Match Rudolf González, who shot with vigour to give his side back the lead with ten minutes remaining.

 

From there, the Dominican Republic held on for the win and a place in the Semi Finals, while El Salvador left the tournament with their tails between their legs.

 

 

 

October 2, 2020

Cuba v Suriname

 

Cuba, on level points with El Salvador, had to gain a better result than El Salvador with a draw or win, while Suriname needed a win outright.

 

Danger befell Suriname as Cuba came closest to scoring first. Onel Hernández rose above his defenders to head against the crossbar in the sixteenth minute, and the follow up needed blocking from the Suriname defenders.

 

Sandro Cutiño also had a ping at goal as Cuba sought to put the match to bed early. Luis Paradela also had a header saved, before Hernández scored when a cross came from the left wing with his head in the 39th minute.

 

One minute later, Paradela finished off the perfect through ball to double the lead and give Suriname little hope of progressing.

 

Suriname certainly tried to advance for a goal, only their final third play lacked any real cohesion. Damil Dankerlui earned a yellow card for his efforts.

 

When news came through of the Dominican Republic’s second goal, Cuba backed off and allowed Suriname a little possession play, which did bring about their first shot on target via Ervin Tjon-A-Lui. However, it was all for nought as Cuba advanced to the Semi Finals to take on Nicaragua.