Curaçao has done a lot in the qualifying phase for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The team of interim national coach Patrick Kluivert, the temporary replacement for Guus Hiddink, was on Saturday evening local time in Estadio El Trébol in Guatemala City with no less than 0-8 too strong for the British Virgin Islands. Curaçao needs a draw in the last group match against Guatemala to advance to the next qualifying round.
Within thirty minutes it was already 0-6 for Curaçao, which started the match with many well-known names from the Eredivisie. Brandley Kuwas opened the score, after which Michaël Maria (twice), Charlison Benschop (twice) and Leandro Bacuna further increased the score. After the interruption, substitute Kenji Gorré, Dean Gorré’s son, scored the final score on Guatemalan soil with two hits.
Curaçao shares the lead in Group C of the CONCACAF zone with Guatemala. Both countries have nine points after three matches and a goal difference of +14. However, Curaçao has scored one more goal, thanks in part to Gorré’s second goal in extra time. Kluivert’s team therefore has enough of a draw against Guatemala in its own Ergilio Hato stadium in Willemstad.
Only the group winner advances to the next round, where one of the other five group winners awaits in a double showdown. The winners of those duels will face the top countries of the CONCACAF zone in the final round in an entire competition: Mexico, United States, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Honduras. The best three go to Qatar, the number four still plays an intercontinental play-off.
Setup: Cream; Martina, Gaari, Alberto, Juninho Bacuna, Anita, Leandro Bacuna, Maria; Kuwas, Benschop and Antonia. Substitutes: Bonevacia, Gorré, Hay, Kastaneer and Van den Hurk.