Puerto Rico strengthened its push in Concacaf Nations League B with a composed 3-0 victory over the Cayman Islands in Mayagüez, where Jeremy De León directed the home side’s attack before Leandro Antonetti came off the bench to complete the scoring.
The result at Estadio Centroamericano takes Puerto Rico to six points in Group B, while the Cayman Islands remain without a win after three matches. They are also the only one of the group’s four teams yet to score.
De León supplies the early control
Jay Mims left Antonetti, the Estrela Amadora forward, out of Puerto Rico’s starting side despite his club form, and handed responsibility in attack to De León of UE Sant Andreu.
The decision paid off before the half-hour. In the 26th minute, Wilfredo Rivera played a short pass toward De León on the right, and De León then found Ricardo Rivera in front of goal. Rivera finished past Cayman goalkeeper Deshawn Whittaker to put Puerto Rico ahead.
De León again shaped the decisive move just before the interval. After bringing the ball under control, he released Wilfredo Rivera, who beat Whittaker in the 45th minute for a 2-0 lead.
With another meeting against the Cayman Islands scheduled for Sunday, Mims began to manage his key players’ minutes in the second half. De León was among the regular starters withdrawn in the 56th minute.
Antonetti entered in the 68th minute in place of Ricardo Rivera and made an immediate impression on the evening’s final outcome. The Portuguese-based forward converted a penalty in the 93rd minute to seal the three-goal win.
Guyana remain out in front
Earlier on Thursday at the same Mayagüez venue, Guyana overwhelmed Dominica 5-1 to preserve their unbeaten record and retain first place in Group B with nine points.
Puerto Rico sit second on six, while Dominica have one point. The Cayman Islands also have one point, but their lack of a goal leaves them bottom of the section.
Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands will meet again on Sunday at Estadio Centroamericano. The timing of the teams’ next fixtures after this run of four matches in four days has not yet been confirmed, although the competition is expected to resume next year.
Promotion and Gold Cup stakes
League B contains 16 national teams arranged in four groups of four. Each group winner will move up to League A, while the fourth-placed sides will drop into League C.
The four leading teams across the league will qualify directly for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup. The two strongest runners-up will instead enter the competition’s preliminary round.
