Guatemala beat Suriname 1-0 on Monday, October 5, at Estadio Manuel Felipe Carrera in Guatemala City to win Group B and reach the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals for the first time in program history. Matthew Evans scored the winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time. The result was overshadowed by a night of disorder: a red card for Suriname substitute Richonell Margaret, a several-minute stoppage after Suriname’s players alleged racist abuse from the stands, and a post-match brawl on the pitch that riot police had to break up, according to match reports.
How Guatemala Won It
Needing a win to advance, Guatemala pressed all night but could not break through for 90 minutes. Rubio Rubin thought he had scored around the 82nd minute, only for the referee to disallow the goal for a foul. Then, in the 90+6th minute, 20-year-old Evans, who plays for Wacker Innsbruck in Austria’s second division, struck a long-range left-footed shot that won it. Concacaf’s official match report credited Evans with a “stunner from long-range.”
The drama was not over. In the final seconds, Suriname goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen went forward for a corner and met it with a header, only for Guatemala keeper Nicholas Hagen to produce a spectacular save and preserve the 1-0 win.
The Red Card, the Stoppage and the Brawl
The flashpoint came around the 62nd minute, when Margaret, who had just entered as a substitute, was shown a straight red card for insulting and provoking the home supporters, according to Emisoras Unidas. The Spanish outlet AS further reported that Margaret spat toward the fans.
After the dismissal, Suriname’s players threatened to walk off the pitch, alleging racist insults directed at them from the stands. Play was halted for several minutes before resuming in the 73rd minute, and the walk-off threat ultimately came to nothing. The racism allegation remains an allegation: Concacaf has announced no disciplinary action and no official finding as of publication.
After the final whistle, players from both teams clashed on the pitch in a brawl that riot police had to break up, according to The Sun’s match report, which carried AP and AFP photography from the scene.
What the Win Means
Guatemala finished top of Group B with seven points, edging Jamaica (seven, second) and Suriname (seven, third) on goal difference. Honduras finished fourth and will join Suriname in the Gold Cup prelims, while Martinique and El Salvador will compete in the League A+C Play-In.
It is a landmark for the program coached by Mexican manager Luis Fernando Tena, coming after Guatemala’s failed 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. “Hoy le dimos una gran alegría a toda la afición que ya le debíamos,” Tena said at the post-match press conference, according to Reuters. Translation: “Today we gave great joy to all the fans, which we already owed them.”
What Comes Next
Guatemala will face Canada in the quarterfinals. Concacaf confirmed the full round: Panama vs Curacao, Canada vs Guatemala, United States vs Haiti and Mexico vs Jamaica. The two legs fall in the November FIFA window, from November 9 to 17, with the first leg at El Trébol and the return in Canada. Concacaf had not officially confirmed the exact leg dates as of publication. The winners advance to the semifinals.
Separately, the post-match brawl and the alleged racist abuse could yet draw Concacaf disciplinary review. No announcement had been made as of publication.
