SKN and Cuba in 1-all draw
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT was a humiliating loss for Suriname, being outscored by Trinidad and Tobago 9-1 and although the match between St. Kitts-Nevis and Cuba ended in a 1-1 score, it meant that the Sugar Boys’ chance of advancing to the CONCACAF finals is lost.
The two games – played at Warner Park - were the last two in the CFU Finals of the Under-23 Olympic Qualifiers which stretched over the period November 24-28.
Prior to the Trinidad and Tobago/Suriname match, T&T had only one point and Suriname had three, and in order to maintain its chances of advancing to the next level of the competition Suriname needed to win that game and increase its point standing to six.
Of course, T&T was fully aware of the consequences of losing the match and during the first half of the game, the Soca Warriors scored four goals. These goals were executed by Kevin Molino in the 15th, 18th and 32nd minutes and Micah Lewis in the 28th.
In the latter half, T&T saw even greater success, scoring five goals.
The goals were scored by Jamal Gray in the 50th and 71st minutes, Molino in the 63rd, Sean De Silva in the 69th and Lewis in the 77th.
It was almost as if Suriname conceded defeat far before the game had concluded. The Dutch boys however managed to score a consolation goal in the 86th minute off the boot of Frisco Mando.
Prior to St. Kitts-Nevis/Cuba game, the former had a total of three match points and Cuba had four, which meant that the Sugar Boys had to win the match in order to advance to the next round.
Both teams fought fiercely throughout the first half as they attempted to get the ball past their opponent’s goalkeeper and into the back of the nets.
However, it was after an infringement against one of St. Kitts-Nevis’ forwards in the 18-yard box that Romaine Sawyer took a penalty kick and copped his team’s first and only goal.
With Cuba playing a more offensive game, St. Kitts-Nevis was keen on defending their lone goal. However, a ball was driven by Cuba’s Delain Aira Fernandez into the back of St. Kitts-Nevis’ nets in the 73rd minute, evening the score.
