El Salvador rescues point in Grenada on late Gil goal

El Salvador got a late goal from Cristian Gil to rescue a 2-2 draw with Grenada in Group D of League A of the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League on Tuesday night at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St. George’s, Grenada, reported CONCACAF.

“Just like in their first encounter on Saturday, a 3-1 El Salvador win, the two sides would trade goals in quick succession in the first half,” CONCAF said. “This time it was Grenada breaking the deadlock in the 29’ when Jacob Berkeley Agyepong pounced on a deflected ball in the El Salvador area and fired into net to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

“But six minutes later in the 35’, El Salvador were on level terms, 1-1, when Nelson Bonilla was fouled in the Grenada area and Alexander Larin calmly converted the spot kick,” it added.

“When it comes to the CNL for Grenada, no player delivers more in the big spot than Jamal Charles, and the star striker would score his seventh career CNL goal for the Spice Boyz in the 54’ when he got behind the El Salvador defense and hammered in a right-footed shot to give his side a 2-1 advantage,” CONCACAF continued.

It said El Salvador looked to respond right away, but they had to wait until the waning minutes for the 2-2 equalizer to come.

In the 88’, Darwin Ceren lofted a pass to Roberto Molina, whose shot was initially blocked by Grenada GK Jason Belfon, “but Gil swooped in and scored to earn a precious point,” CONCACAF said.