Saint Lucia Nations League Momentum Halted

The Saint Lucia men’s national team suffered its first loss of the 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League campaign on Monday night at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, losing 4-0 to Saint Martin, and complicating their path to possibly winning the group.

The Piton Boyz made two changes to the team that earned a comeback 2-1 win over these same opponents on Friday evening. Lester Joseph and Ridel Stanislas, who were both introduced into that prior contest, were on the pitch from the opening whistle.

A challenge from Joseph on Jean-Baptiste Desire Leo led to a penalty in the eighth minute, duly converted by Keelan Lebon. Saint Lucia continued to struggle with the counter-attack, retaining the ball, but never posing a serious goal threat.

Sacha Barakat added to their woes with a well-struck goal on the break in the 26th minute. And Lebon compounded matters with another marker in time added on at the end of the first half.

Saint Lucia made changes, but Saint Martin was more than equal to whatever was thrown at them. Pierre-Bertrand Arne put the icing on the cake in the 62nd minute, and Saint Lucia coach Stern John was blunt in his analysis.

“I think they prepared well for us. I think they had two banks of four, and they sat in a low block when we had the ball,” John offered. “And we just never moved the ball well through the line. I thought we could have moved the ball better than we did. We gave away the ball a couple of times and it cost us. We have two more games to play for in November, so we have to rebuild and come again.”

Saint Lucia started the day with a five-point lead over Curaçao and Grenada in Group B of League B. Curaçao got a 1-0 win over Grenada earlier in the day, to move on to seven points from four games. The loss for Saint Lucia leaves them with nine from the same number of games, whilst Grenada have four, and Saint Martin three.

Going into Willemstad next month for the final window, the Piton Boyz must get a win over either Grenada or Curaçao, or a draw with Curaçao to win the group and advance to League A. They are still in a good position, in spite of a lacklustre showing on Monday.

“We’re not gonna doubt ourselves,” John insisted. “We know we have ability. I think we just never showed up to play, and that’s part of the game. If you don’t show up to play, you gonna get kicked in the teeth.”

(TF)