MIAMI, Florida – Captain and veteran forward Joevin Jones earned Trinidad and Tobago a point against Nicaragua but the hosts still missed out on promotion, while St Kitts and St Lucia earned convincing wins to move up in the CONCACAF Nations League on Monday.
T&T captain Joevin Jones.The 31-year-old Jones levelled for the hosts from the spot in the 42nd minute, cancelling out Ariagner Smith’s 27th minute strike at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago, as T&T came away with a 1-1 result in Group C of League B.
With the result, T&T remained second on 13 points, a point behind leaders Nicaragua who advanced to the Gold Cup and also gained promotion to League A.
T&T will now feature in the Gold Cup preliminaries and remain in League B
Smith put Nicaragua ahead nearing the half-hour mark, eluding defender Kareem Moses and heading a cross past goalkeeper Nicklas Frenderup from six yards.
But Jones equalized moments before the break after Ryan Telfer was brought down in the area, beating goalkeeper Miguel Rodriguez with a thumping drive to his right.
In League C, St Kitts beat Aruba 2-0 courtesy of a brace from Keithroy Freeman, to top Group B and earn promotion to League B and a trip to the Gold Cup preliminaries.
The 29-year-old struck in first half stoppage at Warner Park in Basseterre, running on to a long all out of the back and lobbing the ’keeper from close range, before adding his second in the 80th by pivoting in the box on a Josua John cross, to score from 10 yards.
St Lucia, meanwhile, also earned promotion and a place in the Gold Cup preliminaries after topping Group C by easily brushing aside Dominica 3-1 at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in Castries.
Gregson President put the hosts ahead in the 19th minute from a tight angle from the right of the box before Kurt Frederick scored the first of a brace in the 40th, lashing home a left-footed drive after the Dominica defense failed to clear a loose ball.
Frederick’s second came in the 62nd when his deflected shot from the top of the 18-yard box found the back of the nets.
Briel Thomas struck a consolation goal in the 84th for Dominica, who remained winless on two points from as many draws.
