Nicaragua is a country in Central America. A stormy night ended in jubilation for Nicaragua, which beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 at the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua, in Group C of League B of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League.
Clear skies before beginning made for a fun back-and-forth match, with Brayan Lopez scoring the first goal for the visitors in the sixth minute. In the eighth and ninth minutes, Levi Garcia had a pair of efforts for the visitors.
In the 14th minute, Christian Reyes attempted a long-range shot for Nicaragua, but Trinidad and Tobago would have the better chances. Garcia tried again in the 23rd minute, and Aubrey David in the 36th, but the game appeared to be scoreless for the rest of the half.
With a blast from distance in the 45+1' minute, Josue Quijano scored the game's first goal just before halftime. The right back found some space and struck the near post for his second international goal and first in the CNL.
On the other side of the interval, Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Shannon Gomez assisted in tying the game. In the 46th minute, the 25-year-old delivered a spectacular long-range strike that was chalked up as an own goal by Christian Reyes.
The Blue and White had the victory in their hands as heavy rain fell in the Nicaraguan capital when Juan Barrera and Ariagner Smith combined for a dangerous play inside the area, only to be denied by goalkeeper Marvin Philip. However, the impending pressure was gaining traction, and the home team was salivating at the prospect of three points.
Byron Bonilla scored the game-winning goal for the home team in the 78th minute with a shot from just outside the top of the box. The forward's right-footed effort gave him his third CNL goal, tying Carlos Chavarria for the most by a Nicaraguan player.
After the first matchday, Nicaragua climbed to the top of the group and improved to 3-1-3 in CNL matches. Trinidad and Tobago is still looking for its first CNL win.
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