Looking to put their woeful CONCACAF Nations League campaign behind them, Montserrat return to World Cup 2026 qualifying for a battle against Belize on Wednesday night.
The Emerald Boys are on a mission to end a worrying losing streak across competitive fixtures, whilst the Jaguars are still celebrating a dramatic promotion in the Nations League.
Match preview
© Imago
For the entirety of the 2024-25 international cycle until this point, Montserrat have been playing the role of whipping boys in Nations League B, with Wednesday night's hosts winning one and losing five of their six matches in the section, sentencing them to a fourth-placed finish and subsequent relegation to League C.
The only bright spark of the campaign was a narrow success at the base of minnows Bonaire during October 2024, when former Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic man Lyle Taylor bagged the only goal of the contest in the 49th minute, showcasing his iconic penalty run-up to convert.
Since that collection of maximum points at Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, Montserrat endured a three-game losing run to conclude their sobering Nations League season, meaning that they will be competing against the likes of the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands during the next edition.
Focusing on World Cup qualification, the Emerald Boys have little chance of making it through to the third round of CONCACAF's process, as they are six points away from Panama in a top-two spot with only six points left to fight for over the current international window.
A familiar name to followers of the English game in the lower divisions of the EFL, ex-Birmingham and Charlton manager Lee Bowyer is currently in charge of Montserrat as they try in vain to reach the World Cup, with the 48-year-old winning four of his 12 matches in charge to date, losing the other eight.
In a similar situation to their opponents on Wednesday night, Belize are in need of a miracle to advance past the second round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, with the visitors also failing to earn a single point from their opening two games in Group D, leaving them staring elimination in the face.
Their latest defeat in the section arrived on June 11, 2024, when a brace from Deon Moore and a strike by Walsall left-back Liam Gordon fired Guyana to a 3-1 victory at Wildey Turf in Barbados, where the Jaguars managed a consolation late on in the contest through Carlos Bernardez.
The 32-year-old has now scored seven goals across his 19 competitive appearances for Belize since making his senior debut in September 2019, and the attacker will be excited for a welcome distraction from club side CD Victoria, who are enduring an eight-game winless run in the top flight of Honduras.
On the contrary to the Emerald Boys of Montserrat, the Jaguars enjoyed a productive Nations League campaign from September to March, with Charlie Slusher's troops navigating six fixtures unbeaten (5W 1D), meaning that they will compete in League B of the competition next time around.
Netting four goals across that successful term in the Nations League, Jordi Polanco was the star of the show for Belize from the engine room, with the midfielder outscoring attackers such as Krisean Lopez (2) and Orlando Velasquez (2) during their League C exploits.
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Team News
Despite failing to keep a clean sheet against El Salvador during their most recent match, Montserrat should stick with a centre-back pairing of Nico Gordon and Brandon Comley.
Captain Alex Dyer provides plenty of experience in the heart of midfield for the Emerald Boys, likely to be joined by teenager Dominic Richmond.
Fresh from saving a penalty during the aggregate win over French Guyana in March, Charles Tillett should be in goal for Belize once again.
A number of defenders are banging on the door of the Jaguars manager for a starting berth, including Jahron Myvette and Brandon Bryant Jones.
Montserrat possible starting lineup:
Carter-Rodgers; Kirnon, Gordon, Comley, Meade; Barzey, A Dyer, Richmond, Benjamin; Boatswain, J Dyer
Belize possible starting lineup:
Tilett; Casanova, Wilson, Martinez, Guerra; Myvett, Hernandez, Polanco, Avila, Lopez; Bernardez
We say: Montserrat 0-1 Belize
Losing each of their last three matches and scoring just once in the painful process, Montserrat are bang out of form ahead of Wednesday's clash in Trinidad & Tobago.
On the other hand, Belize are coming off the back of Nations League promotion and should have enough quality to snatch three points on their travels.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
