New York Caribbean Cup. 
ENY State Soccer Association.
Fish Eye Bar and Grill.
The 2016 New York Caribbean Cup 25th Anniversary Soccer Tournament kicked off on Sunday, May 29 and the games may have given us a glimpse as to what to expect this year.
Team Antigua & Barbuda (2) vs (1) Team Dominica
In the opening game first half strikes by Okeem Challenger and Kelley Frederick proved enough to lead Team Antigua & Barbuda to a 2-1 win over Team Dominica.
While Team Antigua & Barbuda started with two players short, Team Dominica started with their full complement, however, Curtis Baptiste who normally marshals their midfield was forced to keep goal because the goal keeper was a no-show.
It didn’t take long for Team Antigua & Barbuda to score as three minutes from the whistle Okeem Challenger beat a couple defenders down the right side and slipped the ball pass an advancing Curtis Baptiste.
Despite playing with two men down Team Antigua & Barbuda looked a much more organized team while dominating the midfield.
It didn’t take long for the ‘Benna Boys’ to score goal number two when Kelley Frederick caught the defense flatfooted through the middle and beat a surprised Baptiste.
The Benna Boys continued to have the better of play in the second half, however, midway through the half Team Dominica made a change that impacted the game immediately. Curtis Baptiste gave up the goalkeeping gloves and took his place in the midfield. The change infused energy into Team Dominica as Team Antigua & Barbuda was beginning to noticeably tire. Shortly after the change Baptiste was involved in a goal front melee that resulted in Rossevelt Pierre nodding home a rebound from close in to pull one back.
The final whistle could not have come any sooner for the Benna Boys who seemed relieved to hear it.
Team Jamaica (1) vs (1) Team Grenada
The nightcap between defending champions Team Jamaica and Team Grenada was an absolute thriller. And at game’s end Team Grenada supporters danced as they thought Team Jamaica was lucky to come away with a point.
This was a game of two halves with Team Grenada dominating the first half. However, while the Spice Boyz controlled the midfield it was Team Jamaica who came closest to breaking the ice twice but were denied by faulty shooting by Rodane Jennings.
Anyway with the game approaching half time, and scoreless, Garfield Gillespie was called for an infraction just outside the box and Denrun Frederick stepped up to give the Spice Boyz a 1-0 advantage.
Whatever Team Jamaica coach Arthur Mikes said during the break seemed to work wonders as his charges came out like a house on fire in the second half but once again denied equalizing because of faulty shooting or the attacks broke down just around the area.
Midway through the half marksman Denzil Watson quieted the Spice supporters when he equalized from close in.
Team Grenada seemed to tire as the half wore on, while Team Jamaica who seemed so lethargic in the first half played with a lot of energy as they hunted for the winner. However, at the final whistle the scores remained locked 1-1.
All in all a great opening to the 2016 New York Caribbean Cup 25th Anniversary Soccer Tournament.
Sunday, June 5th, NY Caribbean Cup - Round 2
3:30pm – Team Trinidad & Tobago vs Team Dominica
5:30pm – Team Haiti vs Team St. Lucia
All Matches Are Played at:
Thomas Jefferson High School Field
12508 Flatlands Ave (& Shepherd
Ave)
Brooklyn NY 11208
Copyright © 2014 - All Rights Reserved - caribbeancupsoccer.com
Template by OS Templates - Edited by Robyn Crawford-Smith