La Selección Dominicana de Fútbol secured an urgent 3-2 victory against Nicaragua on September 24, 2026, in Group A of the Concacaf Nations League. Playing at Estadio Cibao FC in Santiago de los Caballeros, the team known as the Sedofútbol claimed its first triumph in League A after spending its two previous tournament appearances competing in League B.
An Impeccable Start Undone by Defensive Lapses
The hosts established an intense pace right from the opening whistle. Heinz Mörchel broke the deadlock just five minutes into the match, putting the Dominican side ahead. Ten minutes later, Mariano Díaz—formerly of Real Madrid and currently with Alavés—doubled the advantage to 2-0 in the 15th minute. Despite the early stage of the game, the two-goal cushion felt like a commanding statement from the Caribbean squad.
Nicaragua found a lifeline before halftime. In the 39th minute, Juan Luis Pérez converted a direct free-kick to narrow the deficit to 2-1, a scoreline that sparked considerable protests from the Dominican players regarding the buildup to the foul. Following tactical adjustments at the intermission, the visitors continued to press until the 84th minute, when Real Estelí player Byron Bonilla rose to meet an unstoppable header, leveling the score at 2-2.
Agonizing Late Winner Secures Three Points
Despite dominating the flow of play—registering nine shots on target compared to Nicaragua’s four and forcing the opposing goalkeeper into seven saves—manager Marcelo Neveleff’s squad faced the prospect of dropping points as regulation wound down. However, deep into stoppage time at the 90+7th minute, Pablo Rosario found the back of the net to seal an exhausting 3-2 win.
The dramatic finish gives the Dominican Republic three critical points in a concise four-match group stage. The team’s schedule continues rapidly with an away fixture against Trinidad and Tobago on September 27, followed by a home match against Haiti on October 1, and a closing group encounter away against Nicaragua on October 4.
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