…SKN promoted to League B
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A clinical performance from Keithroy Freeman and team St. Kitts-Nevis ensured that they have booked a ticket to the preliminary round of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.
Under windy conditions and witnessed by a small crowd, Freeman and company produced an all-round performance to beating Aruba 2-nil at Warner Park Football Stadium last evening (Mar. 27).
Both teams started passively in the opening exchanges with the visitors having the upper hand, creating chances with neither side being able to convert, but Freeman broke the deadlock when he found the back of the net just before halftime, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
In the second half, team St. Kitts-Nevis came out with a mission to ensure they book their ticket to Florida in June by creating numerous opportunities to ensure Aruba was out of touching distance.
As the match progressed and before the referee could blow the final whistle, Freeman struck again in the 80th minute to see the Federation’s Sugar Boyz through to the Gold Cup by topping the group.
It also means that Team St. Kitts-Nevis will be promoted to League B of the series.
Austin Huggins, Coach of St. Kitts-Nevis, reflected on the game which was a must win for both sides.
“We are looking forward for the next leg which will be in Miami in June, so we have some time to prepare ourselves…
“We were aware that they were trying to draw us out on the wings on both sides, and they would seek to throw in a long ball in the space that would open up,” noted the coach.
Aruba’s Coach Marvic Bermudez, who spoke to the challenges of the playing condition and the mindset of his team coming into the game, explaining that they reviewed a number of videos of the various players, but in the end it was the long ball strategy by the Sugar Boyz that prevailed.
“We know St. Kitts is a good team and they qualified in the group with Trinidad and Tobago. We know that they have a lot of players playing in England, so we prepared for the Game. I think the first 10 minutes went even, but after that St. Kitts put high pressure and we came in trouble,” the Coach told reporters after the game.
Team St. Kitts-Nevis will now have a deserved time of rest before players continue training for the crucial Gold Cup Qualifiers ahead of the draw that takes place on April 14 in California.
