Team Vincy Slip Up While Team Jamaica Squeak

Team Dominica may have opened up the Western Zone of the New York Caribbean Cup Soccer Tournament by scoring first and last to hold many times champions Team St. Vincent and the Grenadines to a 2-2 draw this afternoon. While a 60th minute strike by Team Jamaica was the difference against a far improved Team Guyana.

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Team St. Vincent & the Grenadines 2 vs Team Dominica 2

Team Dominica produced a gutsy performance this afternoon to hold former champions Team St. Vincent and the Grenadines to an exciting 2-2 draw.

Kicking toward the Egan Street goal, Vincy actually dominated the first 30 minutes or so but all their shots toward goal were misdirected. Team Dominica on the other hand had their moments into the Vincy defensive third and it was from one of these sporadic attacks that they set back the former champions 1-0.

With the clock winding down toward half time the Dominicans won a throw-in deep in the Vincy Heat area. The throw was headed into the six yards box to a waiting Curtis Baptiste, who had moved up from his defensive midfield position for the throw, and who headed the ball down into the goal.

There was no further scoring as the teams went to the break with Team Dominica leading by the odd goal.

The first order of business for Vincy Heat in the second stanza was to bring the game back on even terms, but that didn’t happen until the 59th minute when Rhenson Haynes headed home a ball from a corner kick.

Following the goal Team Dominica seemed to lose their focus and three minutes later Seinard Bowens caught the Dominica defense napping as he dribbled through the heart of their defense and drove the ball pass the goalkeeper.

Vincy seemed to have the game locked up and cruising toward full time, but in the 80th minute the team from the land of the Sisserou Parrot tied the game at 2-2 from a long throw in that bounced off Kieran Francis into the goal.

For Team Dominica who have not won or drawn a game in the last two years, a triumph of sorts while for Team St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a mild upset.

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Team Jamaica Escape 1-0 Over Team Guyana

Team Jamaica and Team Guyana game turned out to be as predicted, the skill of the New York Reggae Boyz against the bruising style of the New York Golden Jaguars.

Both teams showed personnel changes from their opening game. For Team Jamaica O’Neil Thompson was back in the middle of their defense, while Jermaine Hue replaced Andre McFarlane in midfield early in the first half and Christopher Banner coming on in the second half for defensive purposes. Meanwhile, the Golden Jaguars showed seven changes to their line up from the team that lost their opening game to Team Haiti two Sundays ago.

As have been their habit, Team Jamaica started sluggishly and had a few anxious moments as Team Guyana played a more alert game, getting to the ball quicker and making crisper passes. Team Jamaica compounded their effort by arguing with the referee on several calls or non-calls throughout the game. In fact, following the game even Team Guyana expressed dissatisfaction with official’s handling of the game.

In an effort to try and get the lethargy out of his team, interim coach Radjpaul made a critical change for Team Jamaica in the 30th minute by replacing Andre McFarlane with Jermaine Hue. That decision almost paid dividends immediately. Kicking toward the Flatlands goal, a shot from Denzel Watson seemed to have crossed the goal line but ruled no-goal by the referee. The shot on goal happened so quickly that the assistant official may not have been in position to see that the defensive player was inside his goal when the shot was blocked.

Both teams had their moments but the scores remained even when the whistle sounded to end the half.

Ten minutes into the second half thunder showers predicted by the weatherman arrived and during the 15 minute downpour the New York Reggae Boyz came to life and it was during this period that Irvino English stepped up for a free kick and curved the ball over the defensive wall into the back of the net.

Shortly after the score, English who was on a yellow card and who had his disagreement with the official throughout was dismissed on a second yellow card forcing his team to play one player short for the last 15 minutes of the game.

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Week 6 Games, June 28, 2015
1:30pm – Team Trinidad & Tobago vs Team Antigua and Barbuda
3:30pm – Team Haiti vs Team St. Kitts & Nevis
5:30pm – Team St. Vincent & the Grenadines vs Team Panama

All games played at Jefferson High School Field, 12508 Flatlands Ave (at Shepherd) in Brooklyn.