Suriname has kicked off the era of new head coach Henk Fraser in the most thrilling fashion possible, securing a dramatic 3-2 away victory over Honduras in their opening Group B match of Concacaf Nations League A on Friday evening. Played at Tegucigalpa’s Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés, the contest delivered all the drama fans could hope for, with Suriname rallying from an early one-goal deficit to claim three crucial points to start their campaign.
The fixture carried extra weight for both sides: it marked the first time the two nations had faced off in 40 years, while for Suriname, it was Fraser’s first official competitive match at the helm. The underdog visiting side showed no intention of sitting back from the opening whistle, pressing aggressively and looking to build attacking chances whenever possible. That bold approach paid off in the 18th minute, when Justin Lonwijk broke the deadlock to put Suriname up 1-0.
Suriname’s early lead was short-lived, however. Just two minutes after Lonwijk’s opener, Honduras hit back to equalize through Dereck Moncada. The host side continued their momentum, and just two minutes later, Bryan Róchez put Honduras ahead 2-1, turning the match on its head inside 20 minutes.
Buoyed by their quick pair of goals, Honduras grew in confidence and began to control large portions of the first half, putting Suriname under sustained pressure. But the visiting side weathered the storm, managing to level the score before halftime through Denzel Jubitana. The 2-2 halftime score left the contest completely open, with everything still to play for in the final 45 minutes.
Both teams came out fighting to start the second half, but as the half progressed, Suriname grew into the game, gradually seizing control of possession and territory. Fraser’s side played with increasing composure, stringing together confident combinations and keeping Honduras pinned deep in their own half for long stretches, reversing the first-half momentum entirely. The winning breakthrough came in the 67th minute, when a stunning long-range left-footed strike from outside the penalty area beat the Honduran goalkeeper, putting Suriname up 3-2.
After taking the lead, Suriname had to absorb wave after wave of late Honduras pressure as the host searched for a late equalizer. The defense held firm, however, and when the final whistle blew, the 3-2 scoreline remained intact.
The result is a dream start for both Fraser and Suriname’s 2026-2027 Nations League campaign. Picking up three points away from home against a competitive opponent after rallying from an early deficit is a result that will build huge confidence for the rest of the group stage. Group B also features Jamaica, Guatemala, Martinique, and El Salvador, and Suriname will be back in action just three days after the Honduras win, facing Martinique on September 28. Two consecutive matches against Guatemala will follow after that opening pair of fixtures.