MIAMI, Florida, CMC – 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.
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 equalised 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 defence 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.