BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE group stages of the 2023 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield tournament wrapped up Monday (Aug. 7) when St. Paul’s United FC picked up its first point of the regional competition with a 1-1 draw with Junior Stars.
The local ball weavers started strongly as they placed their opponents under early pressure, giving Kalonji Clarke the opportunity to find the back of the net in the 3rd minute.
They however seemed to have become complacement or over confident in the second half, which resulted in Yannick Bellachasse striking in the 66th minute to earn Junior Stars a 1-1 draw at the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association’s Technical Centre (SKNFATC).
Metropolitan of Puerto Rico saw off Jong Holland of Curacao 2-0 at Warner Park, with Juan Soriano opening the score in the 29th minute, before Hector Ramos netted in the dying moments of the game (90+3’ minutes).
Over in Group B, Golden Lion of Martinique defeated Scholars International of the Cayman Islands 4-0 at the SKNFATC, with Jordy Boriel opening the score in the 8th minute, while Alvyn Lamasine netted a double in the 62th and 79th minutes, and Kenterly Faucher drove the final nail in Curacao’s coffin in the 90th minute.
Action wrapped up in Group C and Group D on Tuesday evening,with the semi-final, as Trinidad and Tobago’s Club Sando progressing after brushing off SV Dakota (Aruba) 3-0 at the SKNFA TCentre.
In that game, with lightening, thunder and the threat of rain, Kevon Williams opened the score in the 12th minute, while Nicholas Dillon doubled the lead in the 61st minute and Isaiah Thompson 82nd minute strike confirmed passage to the semi-finals.
In the other Group D match at the Warner Park Football Stadium, SWA Sharks (Turks and Caicos Islands) drew 1-1 with Solidarite Scolaire of Guadeloupe.
Goal scored by Foggea Sael in the 4th minute gave Solidarite Scolaire a 1-0 lead, but Christopher Louisy equalized for the Sharks in the 20th minute.
In the evening encounter, O&M FC out of the Dominican Republic thrashed St. Lucia’s Champions B1 FC 8-2, with Daniel Jamesley netted four goals in the 10th, 57th, 60th and 76th minutes; Kensy Guerrero scored a double in the 55th and 63rd minutes; while Aricheell Hernandez and Sergio Paredes netted one each in the 21st and 26th minutes respectively.
B1 FC’s goals came off the boots of Andrus Remy in the 79th minute and and Jordan St. Ange in the 90th.
Meanwhile, at Warner Park, Robinhood of Suriname got over the line with a 4-2 victory against AS Etoile Matoury of French Guiana, with Jamilhio Rigters netting a double in the 16th and 33rd minutes, while Shaquille Cairo netted in the 47th and Carlos Da Silva followed in the 88th minute.
AS Etoile Matoury’s two goals were scored by Cerezo Haabo in the 21st and the 71st minutes.
In Friday’s (Aug. 11) semi-final, Robinhood will go up against Metropolitan of Puerto Rico, and Club Sando will meet with Martinique’s Golden Lion.
