Saint Lucia’s senior national men’s football team earned a second handsome win in the Concacaf Nations League, and their first clean sheet, dropping Guadeloupe 3-0 at the Wildey Astroturf on Friday in Barbados.
Head coach Rajesh Latchoo made an expected change to his starting lineup. After scoring in a friendly against Azerbaijan earlier this year, Donovan “Gusto” Phillip made his competitive debut, coming in for Ajani Louis.
Saint Lucia started the more energetic and active team, with a handful of supporters giving good voice on the sideline. Their pressure finally told in the 17th minute.
Arkell Jude-Boyd won the first corner kick for the Piton Boyz in the 15th minute. Kurt Frederick’s delivery skimmed across the goalmouth, but a Guadeloupe defender parried the cross away with his hand, resulting in a penalty kick.
From 12 years away, off a short run, Caniggia Elva hit it hard, low, and to the goalkeeper’s left to nudge the Piton Boyz ahead. It was Elva’s eighth international goal in 17 matches, and his second career goal against Guadeloupe.
A second corner kick from Frederick fizzed across the area in the 18th minute, finally falling to Kegan Caull, the hat trick hero in Saint Lucia’s last game. The 22-year-old skipped past two defenders to the edge of the six yard box and hit it back across for Arkell Jude-Boyd to tuck it in.
The third goal came from the head of Donavan Phillip, playing his first game of this year’s CNL. The Colorado Rapids forward fed Caull down the left touchline, and sprinted into the box to finish off the move with a beautiful header.
At least momentarily, Saint Lucia are atop the group, with six points. Guadeloupe and Barbados sit on four, with the hosts playing bottom of the table Bermuda on Friday night.
The Piton Boyz have been in third situation before, leading their groups in the 2023 and 2024 CNL cycles, only to drop crucial points. In fact, they beat Guadeloupe 2-1 in 2023, only to lose 2-0 in the second leg.
Coach Latchoo and his men will certainly be keen to avoid repeating history.
