MIAMI.- Though they finished at the bottom of the Concacaf Nations League Qualifying table, Saint Martin did take part in one of the most fun games of the competition, a 4-3 loss to neighbors and rivals Sint Maarten just across the island. 

Even in defeat, there were still positives to take away from the experience. Two goals on the road against Grenada was a step forward, as was the three-goal performance against Sint Maarten. 

Then last March, just a week before the Sint Maarten clash, they lost by an identical 4-3 scoreline to Saint Barthelemy in a friendly, showing that the goalscoring capabilities are there for Saint Martin. 

An area in which Saint Martin will seek to improve is their defense. The Swallows have conceded at least two goals during every match of a current six-game losing streak. Nicholas Chalmet, who plays in the New Zealand Premier League, may be expected to drop back further from his traditional attacking midfielder role in order to play as more of a centerpiece and control the flow of the game in order to keep the Saint Martin defense rested and allow time to reshape. 

Since two wins over Anguilla in friendlies last year, including a 5-1 victory that set a record for the country’s largest winning margin in history, Saint Martin has yet to win but will look to turn things around in Group A. 

They have looked ready to take the fight to anyone all throughout qualification, even against superior opposition, which will make for must-see viewing in the Nations League.