Suriname Hold Guatemala to Goalless Draw in CONCACAF Nations League Stalemate

Final Score: Suriname 0–0 Guatemala CONCACAF Nations League | October 2, 2026

Result Summary

A goalless draw was the outcome in Paramaribo as Suriname and Guatemala cancelled each other out in a frustrating CONCACAF Nations League encounter. Despite Suriname's clear statistical dominance throughout the 90 minutes, neither side could find the net, leaving both teams to share the spoils in what ultimately proved to be a night of missed opportunities for the hosts.

Match Analysis

The numbers paint a strikingly one-sided picture that the scoreline simply does not reflect. Suriname, guided by coach Henk Fraser, controlled the contest in virtually every measurable dimension — registering 61% possession against Guatemala's 39%, generating 135 attacks to the visitors' 89, and producing a remarkable 109 dangerous attacks compared to just 32 from Luis Fernando Tena Garduño's side.

Most tellingly, Suriname registered 13 total shots, with 8 on target, while Guatemala managed only 2 total shots and zero on target across the entire match. The five corners Suriname won versus Guatemala's none further illustrates the sustained pressure the home side applied. With 10 key passes to Guatemala's 2 and an 88% successful pass rate, Suriname were technically and tactically the superior outfit on the night — yet somehow they walked away without a goal to show for it.

Guatemala's game plan became evident as the match progressed: defend deep, absorb pressure, and frustrate the hosts at every opportunity. That approach contributed to a feisty second half dominated by card activity. Justin Lonwijk was booked for Suriname in the 56th minute before Jorge Eduardo Aparicio Grijalva received a yellow for time wasting just three minutes later — a telling detail about Guatemala's approach. A flare-up in the 73rd and 74th minutes saw both Jose Marío Rosales Marroquín and Suriname's Manuel Pherai cautioned for arguing, the latter having only just entered the field as a substitute. Stheven Adán Robles Ruiz and Aaron Herrera also picked up late bookings for Guatemala, with five yellows distributed across the visitors in total.

Guatemala made a double substitution at the break — Antonio López and Rudy Muñoz replacing Olger Escobar and Matt Evans — suggesting Tena Garduño was recalibrating defensively from the outset of the second half. Suriname responded with their own changes around the hour mark, introducing Denilho Cleonise, Djenario Daniels, Manuel Pherai, Dhoraso Moreo Klas, and Che Nunnely in an effort to unlock a stubborn Guatemalan backline — but none could make the decisive difference.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast anticipated a Guatemala victory (away win probability at 37%), with Suriname at 38% and a draw at 25%. The predicted scoreline of 1–2 proved wide of the mark. While the low confidence rating of 39/100 reflected genuine uncertainty heading in, the draw outcome — and particularly Suriname's total dominance of play without converting — was the one scenario that perhaps least aligned with the expected pattern. Guatemala's disciplined defensive effort defied the statistical landscape entirely.

Key Takeaways

• Suriname dominated the game statistically but suffered from a lack of clinical finishing, with 8 shots on target yielding zero goals.
• Guatemala's defensive resilience — absorbing 109 dangerous attacks — was the defining feature of their performance.
• A disciplined, if cynical, approach from the visitors was reflected in their five yellow cards.
• Henk Fraser will be encouraged by the attacking intent but frustrated by the inability to convert clear chances on home soil.