A lone goal from captain Kai Russell earned Saint Lucia a win over neighbours Grenada to open the Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship on Monday. Entered in League C, the young Piton Boyz will play all their Group G games at Curaçao’s Stadion Jean Francisca.
The sole goal from the England-based attacker came in the first five minutes of the second period. Russell, who plays for the Reading FC Academy, stepped up to convert a deserved penalty, which turned out to be the winning goal.
Along with the best homegrown talent, the national team for the fifth edition of the Concacaf age-group competition includes two players from the US – Eustace Blackstock of Progressive Youth Soccer Club in New York and Gian Blanchard of FC Dallas, the son of a former Saint Lucia international.
Ricardo Blanchard played professionally as a midfielder in the United States, appearing in 125 matches for the A-League’s Connecticut Wolves, New Orleans Storm, and Long Island Rough Riders. He is now the director of coaching for the Dallas Hornets.
The young Piton Boyz, with former international Francis ‘Baba’ Lastic as head coach, face a quick turnaround against Martinique at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, then French Guiana on Wednesday from 9 a.m. Martinique defeated French Guiana 3-0 on Monday to go top of the group. Only the group winners will advance.
The championship features a record 38 Concacaf member associations, as well as one guest participant, Saudi Arabia. The knockout phase will be played next weekend.
The Concacaf Boys’ U-15 Championship was most recently held in 2023. Nicaragua captured the League B crown with a narrow 2-1 victory over Saint Lucia.
