WILLEMSTAD (DA) — Curaçao returns home Sunday looking to strengthen its position in CONCACAF Nations League Group A against Nicaragua, with head coach Dick Advocaat marking his 79th birthday while also managing playing-time restrictions placed on some players by their clubs.
The Blue Wave faces Nicaragua at Stadion Ergilio Hato at 8 p.m. local time after opening the competition with a dramatic 4-3 comeback victory over Costa Rica on Thursday.
Curaçao erased a 3-0 halftime deficit in San José, scoring four times in the second half through Kenji Gorré twice, Tahith Chong and Jordi Paulina.
The result left Curaçao with 3 points and a +1 goal difference. Haiti and the Dominican Republic also won their opening matches and sit on 3 points with the same goal difference, but Curaçao leads the group on goals scored after finding the net four times.
Haiti opened with a 3-2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, while the Dominican Republic defeated Nicaragua 3-2.
The other two contenders near the top of the group will also be in action Sunday. Haiti faces Costa Rica, while the Dominican Republic plays Trinidad and Tobago.
With League A teams playing only four group-stage matches, every result carries significant weight. The top two teams in the six-team group advance to the Nations League quarterfinals.
A victory over Nicaragua would move Curaçao to 6 points halfway through its schedule. If Haiti and the Dominican Republic both fail to win, the Blue Wave would finish the day alone on 6. A victory by either would leave two teams level on points, while wins by both would put Curaçao, Haiti and the Dominican Republic on 6.
A draw would move Curaçao to 4 points and preserve its unbeaten start, although victories by Haiti and the Dominican Republic would allow both to move ahead in the standings.
A Nicaragua victory would leave Curaçao on 3 points and bring the Central Americans level with the Blue Wave. Curaçao would still have two matches remaining, but the race for the two quarterfinal places would become considerably tighter.
Advocaat, who was born Sept. 27, 1947, could make changes from the team that started against Costa Rica as he spends his 79th birthday on the sideline. Curaçao is playing four Nations League matches between Sept. 24 and Oct. 4, and some clubs have placed playing-time restrictions on their players because of the compressed international schedule and the demands of their domestic seasons.
That could open the door for other members of Advocaat’s squad against Nicaragua as Curaçao manages minutes across four matches in a relatively short period.
Nicaragua showed its resilience in its opening match despite leaving the Dominican Republic without a point. After falling behind 2-0, the Central Americans fought back to make it 2-2 before eventually losing 3-2.
Curaçao enters Sunday with momentum after its comeback in Costa Rica, but the schedule leaves little room to dwell on the result.
After Nicaragua, the Blue Wave will face Trinidad and Tobago at Stadion Ergilio Hato on Oct. 1 before traveling to Port of Spain for another meeting with Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 4.
For Advocaat and Curaçao, Sunday presents an opportunity to celebrate the coach’s birthday with another important result while building an early advantage in Group A and managing the squad through one of the most demanding stretches of the Nations League schedule.