The debut of Chilean Marco Antonio Figueroa as coach of Nicaragua ended this Friday in Managua with a 2-1 victory over the favorite Trinidad and Tobago, in a match interrupted by a blackout and in which five local players lost due to covid positive -19.
A great goal by Nicaraguan striker Byron Bonilla from outside the area, at minute 78, gave the “Azul Blanco” the definitive advantage, which started with victory in the first date of group C of the Concacaf Nations League.
The Nicaraguans opened the scoring in the 45th minute through winger Josué Quijano, who made space for himself from outside the area and kicked a ball with his left foot that was barely touched by a Trinidad and Tobago defender, enough to divert the direction and that ended at the bottom of the nets.
Nicaragua, with hardly any shots on goal defended by captain Marvin Phillip, went into the break ahead by the least, before a large crowd that packed the National Soccer Stadium in Managua.
After the break, the Caribbean team came out with everything and quickly managed to tie (1-1), with a dangerous play by Shannon Gómez, which caused an own goal by local defender Christian Reyes.
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Both teams increased the pace of the game, with more order on the Nicaraguan side, and with more speed on the Trinidad and Tobago side. In the 69th minute the lights of the towers went out and the game was stopped for several minutes.
When the light returned, the two teams continued to search hungrily for victory. Bonilla, with a right hand, defined the game.
The last 12 minutes plus the four stoppages were played under heavy rain, which did not prevent the visitors from seeking an equalizer or the locals from widening their lead.
In a one-on-one match, Ariagner Smith had a chance to kill off the match, but he shot wide.
The Nicaraguan team is placed first in group C of the League of Nations, tied with the Bahamas, which beat Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1-0 on Friday.
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Nicaragua did not have five players for the matchup due to covid-19. The casualties were Henry García, Marvin Fletes, Denvorn Fox, Melvin Hernández and Junior Arteaga, who will also not play against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines next Monday.
Data sheet:
2. Nicaragua: Douglas Forvis; Josué Quijano, Oscar Acevedo, Henry Niño, Cristiam Gutiérrez; Christian Reyes, Byron Bonilla, Juan Barrera (C), Matías Moldskred; Ariagner Smith and Brayan Lopez.
Coach: Marco Antonio Figueroa.
1. Trinidad and Tobago: Marvin Phillip (C); Sheldon Bateau, Aubrey David, Kareem Moses, Shannon Gomez; Keston Julien, Daniel Phillips, Triston Hodge, Leston Paul; John Paul Rochford and Levi Garcia.
Coach: Angus Eve.
Goals: 1-0, m.45: Quijano; 1-1, m.46: Gomez; 2-1, m.78: Bonilla.
Referee: Costa Rican Keylor Herrera Villalobos.
Incidents: Group C match of League B of the Concacaf Nations League played at the National Soccer Stadium, in the Nicaraguan capital.
