El Salvador 3–1 Martinique | CONCACAF Nations League | September 26, 2026

Result Summary

El Salvador delivered a commanding home performance in the CONCACAF Nations League, defeating Martinique 3–1 in a match that was effectively settled before the half-hour mark. Brayan Gil Hurtado was the standout performer, netting a brace in the opening 18 minutes, while Harold Daniel Osorio Moreno added a third to put the game beyond reach. A second-half sending-off for each side added drama to what was otherwise a controlled Salvadoran victory under coach Hernán Darío Gómez Jaramillo.

Match Analysis

El Salvador came out of the blocks with real intent. Brayan Gil Hurtado opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a left-footed finish, assisted by Harold Osorio, and doubled the lead just ten minutes later with his right foot — again set up by Osorio, who was instrumental in El Salvador's early dominance. The partnership between the two proved devastating, and when Harold Daniel Osorio Moreno himself got on the scoresheet in the 29th minute — converting a right-foot effort assisted by Mauricio Cerritos — El Salvador had wrapped up a stunning first half with a 3–0 advantage.

The statistics tell a more nuanced story. Martinique actually edged possession at 52% to 48% and dominated in raw attacking volume, registering 16 total shots to El Salvador's 9, 85 dangerous attacks to 67, and 6 corners to just 1. However, El Salvador's clinical efficiency was the decisive factor — they managed 3 shots on target to Martinique's 2, converting goals with ruthless composure when it mattered most.

The second half was chaotic. Coach Hernán Darío Gómez Jaramillo made his first change at the break, bringing on Víctor Vladimir García Campos for the influential Harold Osorio. The discipline, however, quickly unravelled. A yellow card for El Salvador's Herberth Marcelo Díaz in the 47th minute set a fractious tone. Then, in a turbulent spell between the 62nd and 66th minutes, Cyril Mandouki and an unnamed Martinique player were booked for arguing, before El Salvador's Geonathan Ramón Barrera Pedroza was shown a straight red card in the 65th minute. Martinique's Jonathan Varane — ironically brought on at half-time — followed him to the tunnel just one minute later for violent conduct, leaving both sides temporarily reduced and the match thoroughly disrupted.

Martinique managed to score their consolation goal, but El Salvador's lead was never genuinely threatened. Further yellow cards for Jefferson Leonel Valladares in the 74th minute reflected the continued tension, though the hosts managed the closing stages effectively despite finishing with ten men.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called for a narrow 1–0 El Salvador win, with a predicted confidence of just 38/100 — reflective of genuine uncertainty heading into this fixture. While the winner was correctly identified, the margin was far more emphatic than anticipated. El Salvador's early goals transformed what was expected to be a tight encounter into a convincing victory. The prediction outcome is marked correct, though the explosive start and three-goal first half were well beyond the scope of the forecast.

Key Takeaways

• Brayan Gil Hurtado's brace inside 18 minutes was the defining moment of the match, with Harold Osorio providing both assists before his half-time substitution.
• Despite Martinique's statistical superiority in possession and shot volume, El Salvador's clinical finishing proved the difference.
• The chaotic disciplinary spell between the 62nd and 66th minutes — producing two reds and multiple yellows — will be a concern for both coaches ahead of future fixtures.
• Coach Fabien Mercadal will need to address Martinique's inability to convert their territorial dominance into meaningful results.