Ten-man Suriname suffer stoppage-time Nations League elimination
Henk Fraser’s side needed only a draw in Guatemala but conceded the decisive goal late on after substitute Richonell Margaret was sent off.
Suriname were eliminated from the CONCACAF Nations League in painful fashion after losing 1-0 away to Guatemala. Henk Fraser’s team entered their final group match knowing that a draw would be enough to secure a quarter-final place.
The visitors had collected seven points from their opening three fixtures and reached half-time with the game still goalless. Etienne Vaessen, Liam van Gelderen, Shaquille Pinas, Gyrano Kerk and Shiloh ’t Zand were among those selected in Suriname’s starting line-up.
Fraser replaced Denilho Cleonise with Go Ahead Eagles forward Richonell Margaret at the interval, but the substitute lasted only a little over 15 minutes before receiving a straight red card. Despite being reduced to ten men, Suriname appeared to be closing in on the result they required.
Guatemala instead struck deep into stoppage time. Matthew Evans collected possession around 20 metres from goal and curled a left-footed finish into the far top corner, beyond Vaessen, to make it 1-0. The defeat left Suriname on seven points with a goal difference of plus one. Guatemala and Jamaica also finished with seven points but advanced with superior goal differences of plus six and plus two respectively.
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