Late Drama in Paramaribo: Misidjan’s Injury-Time Equalizer Salvages Precious Point for Suriname Against Guatemala

At the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo, Suriname’s World Cup dreams teetered on the edge for 90 tense minutes Friday evening, before Virgil Misidjan’s stoppage-time strike rescued a 1-1 draw against Guatemala—a result that reshapes the CONCACAF qualification narrative for both nations.

For much of the night, it appeared Guatemala would leave Suriname with a pivotal away victory, courtesy of Darwin Lom’s clinical finish in the 75th minute. But the hosts, resilient to the last whistle, found their lifeline deep into added time as Misidjan lashed home amid a chaotic goalmouth scramble, sending the home crowd into delirious celebration.

A Contest Defined by Nerves and Narrow Margins

From the outset, the stakes were unmistakable. Both sides—each chasing crucial points in a logjammed qualification group—approached the fixture with urgency but also caution. Suriname, buoyed by a recent 2-1 victory away to El Salvador and an unbeaten run through September, sought to build on their momentum and tighten their grip on a finishing place for the next stage. Guatemala, still reeling from a disappointing September marked by a draw in Panama and a home defeat to El Salvador, arrived desperate to reverse their fortunes.

The first half reflected these competing impulses. Suriname, led by the midfield dynamism of Dhoraso Moreo Klas and the steady hand of Radinio Balker in defense, measured their advances, probing without gambling recklessly. For Guatemala, Lom and Óscar Santis offered flashes of danger on the counter, but clear-cut chances were scarce. Both keepers—Suriname’s Warner Hahn and Guatemala’s Nicholas Hagen—were largely spectators before the interval, each called upon to deal with routine efforts rather than genuine threats.

Turning Point: Guatemala Seizes the Moment

The tension ratcheted up in the second half as the match’s tactical chess game gave way to more open exchanges. With 15 minutes remaining, Guatemala capitalized on a rare lapse in Suriname’s organization. A quick exchange down the right flank released Santis, whose low cross was deftly converted by Lom, his powerful finish silencing the Essed Stadion save for a jubilant Guatemalan enclave behind the goal.

It was a breakthrough that, for a moment, seemed destined to define the evening—and perhaps alter the arc of Guatemala’s qualifying campaign. The visitors tightened their lines and invited Suriname forward, seeking to protect their slender margin.

Misidjan Answers in the 90th

Yet Suriname, unbeaten in their last three competitive fixtures, were not resigned. Spurred by the urgency of the ticking clock, manager Aron Winter flooded the attack with fresh legs. It was in the dying embers, with the fourth official’s board signaling four minutes of stoppage time, that the hosts found salvation.

A sustained spell of late pressure produced a scramble within the Guatemalan box. Amid ricochets and desperate lunges, the ball fell kindly for Misidjan at the edge of the six-yard area. The winger, who had been marshaled closely for much of the night, needed only a heartbeat to lash his shot past Hagen, sparking thunderous cheers and a collective surge of relief from the stands.

Implications: Standings and the Road Ahead

The result leaves both Suriname and Guatemala far from secure—yet still very much alive—in the chase for a place at the World Cup. Suriname’s ability to claw back a point under pressure preserves their unbeaten run in qualification, following their landmark win in San Salvador and a hard-fought scoreless draw against Panama earlier this month. They remain perched in a competitive group, currently standing above Guatemala, and retain control of their destiny should they continue this run of form.

For Guatemala, the draw stings as a missed opportunity. Winless in their last four competitive outings, Luis Fernando Tena’s side must now regroup quickly. Their inability to hold a late lead—mirroring similar frustrations in Panama last month—underscores both the squad’s potential and its propensity to falter at decisive moments. With just one point separating the middle of the table, Guatemala’s path to qualification has grown more perilous, and upcoming fixtures will carry mounting pressure.

A Rivalry Renewed

Historically, encounters between Suriname and Guatemala have been tightly contested, with neither side establishing lasting dominance in their recent meetings. Friday’s draw extended that tradition, reinforcing the razor-thin margins that separate hope from heartbreak in CONCACAF’s fevered qualifying gauntlet.

As the campaign barrels toward its decisive games, Suriname will look to harness the momentum of late heroics, while Guatemala must confront the ghosts of squandered leads. For both nations, every point now carries outsized consequence—none more so than Friday’s, wrestled from the brink in Paramaribo at the very last gasp.