Saint Lucia secure get first Concacaf U20 qualifying win

Saint Lucia won their second Concacaf Under-20 men’s qualifier on Friday, February 27, beating Dominica 3-0 in a Group C encounter in Costa Rica, having lost to Antigua & Barbuda earlier in the week.

Captain Eymani Butcher scored a brace at Complejo Deportivo FCRF-Plycem in San Rafael de Alajuela, as the young Piton Boyz moved up to third in the five-team group.

The technical staff made two changes from the team that lost 1-0. In goal, A’dee Germe came in for Tyrell Vidal, whilst up front, Dervaj Edward replaced Messiah Pinel.

Saint Lucia opened their tally through captain Eymani Butcher in the 10th minute. A long clearance from Alfred Hippolyte fell to Kevin Blackstock, who outmuscled three Dominican defenders to provide the Soufrierian midfielder with a short cross just outside the six-yard box. With not a marker in sight, Butcher measured and slotted home to make it 1-0.

That score remained unchanged at halftime, and four minutes into the second period, the Germany-based Blackstock gave way to Tashawn Walter. Mere seconds thereafter, Dervaj Edward took a speculative shot from 25 yards out, but it was intercepted by a Dominican defender, who handled the ball in the process. Up stepped Butcher, with a powerful shot low and to the right of the Dominican custodian, to double the lead.

Butcher’s 70th-minute shot from 22 yards didn’t get him his hat trick, but it did result in a third goal for Saint Lucia. The effort was parried by the goalkeeper, but only to the edge of the six-yard box. Johnny on the spot, substitute Edrick Popo nutmegged the keeper to make it 3-0.

With a win and a loss, Saint Lucia now have three points, behind Antigua & Barbuda with two wins from two games, and the Dominican Republic with a win from their only fixture so far. A win for the Piton Boyz over the DR on Sunday, March 1, would be considered an upset, but it would make the group very interesting. Saint Lucia end against the British Virgin Islands on Tuesday, March 3.

(TF)