ARIMA, Trinidad (July 28, 2025)—Moca FC of the Dominican Republic advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 CFU Club Shield on the strength of a 1-0 win over Guyana Defence Force FC in their match at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Monday.

The win placed Moca at the top of the Group B standings and set up a semifinal clash on Friday against the Academy Eagles from the Turks and Caicos Islands, who topped Group A.

Moca and the Guyana Defence Force both entered Monday’s game with wins in their first encounters and were seeking to advance in the competition.

The decisive moment came in the 14th minute when Yohan Parra found the back of the net. A well-delivered corner kick caused confusion in the box, and Parra managed to deflect the ball past goalkeeper Duquain Samuels to give Moca the lead.

In the 28th minute, Guyana Defence Force appeared to be building momentum, but a dangerous attack was thwarted and cleared for a corner. Moca FC quickly turned defense into offense, launching a counterattack that saw Valentin Sabella skillfully lift the ball over the defense to find an unmarked Sergio Ventura. However, Ventura missed a golden opportunity to double the lead, sending his shot wide.

Just two minutes later, Moca FC threatened again. Juan De Jesus found himself with a chance, but Samuels reacted swiftly, closing down the angle and forcing De Jesus to head the ball over the bar.

From there, Moca FC began to dominate possession, dictating the tempo and keeping their opponents on the back foot. In the 37th minute, Guyana Defence Force's Shemar Scott tried to spark a response, weaving through two defenders and unleashing a long-range effort. However, Moca keeper Pascual Ramirez was well-positioned to make a comfortable save.

The first half ended with Moca FC holding a 1-0 advantage.

After the break, the match evened out, with Guyana Defence Force improving their possession and attacking intent. Their first real chance of the second half came in the 52nd minute, once again through Scott, whose long-range strike forced Ramirez into another save.

At the other end, Moca came close to extending their lead when Lihue Prichoda’s curling free kick nearly caught Samuels off guard, but the keeper recovered well to deflect it out with his leg. Ramirez was called into action again in the 67th minute, making a crucial save to preserve Moca’s slender lead.

Despite several promising opportunities, the Guyanese side couldn’t find an equalizer.

Moca FC held firm defensively and secured the three points, booking their place in the semifinal stage of the competition.