Week 4 - New York Caribbean Cup Heats Up...

Team St Kitts & Nevis (3) vs (2) U23 Brooklyn Soca Lions

Week four of the New York Caribbean Cup Soccer Tournament saw Team St. Kitts & Nevis open with an exhibition 3-2 win over the Brooklyn Soca Lions U-23 team.

The young Soca Lions went to the break leading 1-0 on a goal by Ackeem Mazzlin, however, Jolston Whatley pulled things even two minutes into the second half for the Sugar Boyz followed by an Alister Warner brace that gave them a 3-1 advantage. Ibrahim Hammed made things interesting with a late strike for the Lions to make the final score Team St. Kitts & Nevis 3 Soca Lions 2.

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Team Dominica (0) vs (0) Team Guyana

One team I really admire in the NY Caribbean Cup Soccer Tournament is Team Dominica. They do not possess the most outstanding talent but they play with heart and it was evidenced once more this afternoon against Team Guyana.

Following heart breaking losses to Team Antigua & Barbuda and Team Trinidad & Tobago in their first two games, Team Dominica could not afford a third loss with only two games remaining on their schedule in the preliminary round.

The Golden Jaguars clearly dominated the first twenty minutes or so of the game when suddenly on a counter attack their goalkeeper Richard Reynolds was called on to make a point blank save which seemed to turn a switch on for Team Dominica.

Both teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the game with neither capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Almost on full time Team Guyana protested a non-call by the officials at what they felt was a hand ball on the goal line by Team Dominica. Unfortunately for them the officials did not see it their way as the whistle sounded to end the game.

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Team Haiti (2) vs (1) Team Panama

The nightcap between Team Haiti and Team Panama was outstanding.

Team Haiti started with eight player and surprisingly matched Team Panama pass for pass throughout the first half.

Rogelio Nash had Los Canaleros celebrating at about the twenty fifth minute mark when he tapped home from a goal front melee to give Team Panama a 1-0 lead.

That was the only goal of the half but credit must go to Team Haiti who not only played the half with eight men but their best defensive player David Daout was asked to do duty in goal.

During the break more Les Grenadiers arrived so they were able to start the second half with a full complement of eleven players.

Kicking toward the Flatlands goal, and with the half only eleven minutes old, an Alfred Sonthonax’s corner kick from the left side floated nicely over the goal but was cleared by Team Panama. As it turned out the danger was only temporary as the clearance fell at the feet of Sonthonax whose one time volley kick beat Team Panama’s goalkeeper Michael Ashby to make the score Team Haiti 1 Team Panama 1.

It didn’t take long for Team Haiti to get their second and winning goal and the goal of the match.

Referee David Huilca awarded Les Grenadiers a free kick about thirty yards out. Up stepped Jean Gary Rubin whose pile driver beat Michael Ashby as the ball ripped into the top right corner of the net. The goal put Team Haiti ahead 2-1 which remained so to the final whistle.

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Sunday, June 26th, NY Caribbean Cup - Round 5

1:30pm –Team St. Lucia vs Team Panama
3:30pm –Team Antigua & Barbuda vs Team Grenada
5:30pm –Team Jamaica vs Team Guyana

All Matches Are Played at:

Thomas Jefferson High School Field
12508 Flatlands Ave (& Shepherd Ave)
Brooklyn NY 11208