As a result, Curaçao has put itself in a favorable position for the decisive confrontation with Jamaica, next Tuesday in Kingston. Grandfather Advocaat’s ‘blue family’ is the group winner in the event of a draw, with a World Cup ticket as the best bonus imaginable.
Corendon changes name and logo for one day following the World Cup placement of Curaçao: Corendick
The team of Advocaat and his eternal right-hand man Cor Pot filled Hamilton with a truckload of confidence for what has become the most important match in history for Curaçao. The country has never participated in a World Cup. In fact: never before has a small country like Curaçao qualified for a World Cup.
Captain Leandro Bacuna gives Curaçao a dream start from the spot
The Curaçao players, put on edge by Advocaat and Pot, were on top of things from the first minute. After six minutes, a curled shot by Kenji Gorré was blocked by the defender’s arm.
This initially went unnoticed by the otherwise well-leading American female referee Tori Penso, but not by the VAR. Curaçao captain Leandro Bacuna coolly gave his team a dream start in the match that had to be won: 0-1.
Super debut by Jordi Paulina from Odijk
Curaçao tightened the thumbscrews further, pushed Bermuda further back and that led to the 0-2. Juninho Bacuna brought his right leg into position with a technical feat and delivered a devastating score: 0-2. After halftime, the ball hit the spot again after just two minutes, after Bermuda goalkeeper Dale Eve had attacked Jordi Paulina, who had just come on.
The 21-year-old striker from Odijk, who was once too strong for Ajax with Hercules and has been employed by Borussia Dortmund since the summer of 2024, had a great debut. Paulina herself took advantage of the pin (0-3) and after an hour also scored the 0-5. In between, Sontje Hansen had already scored the fourth Curaçao goal.
Gallery play and a long shot a la Arie Haan
It was former Ajax player Hansen who had already given the starting signal for a Caribbean example of gallery play. Perhaps it was not wise to stand haughtily on the ball, because he thereby provoked a death kick from Dane Leverock.
After Advocaat prematurely changed guns ahead of the away match against Jamaica, his team fired up one more time. Ar’jany Martha (0-6) and Roshon van Eijma, with a long shot like Arie Haan (0-7), completed the seven-hit match.