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GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Hosts St Lucia outplayed Curacao 5-1 and St Vincent and the Grenadines subdued Guyana 2-1 to open their CFU Caribbean Cup football campaign here Sunday night. In first round, group two double-header action at the Beausejour stadium, the St Lucians snapped a six-game winless streak while the Vincentians win was the fourth in six games.
St Lucia controlled the momentum and led two-nil at the half after Tremain Paul, the first of five different scorers, converted in the 14th minute and Magnam Valcin found the nets a minute before the interval.
However, Isenia Alexander, trying to rally a Curacao second half revival, scored in the 48th minute of play.
But their efforts to win back the momentum were short-lived as the homeside, cheered on by local supporters, restored the two-goal advantage three minutes later off the boot of Eden Charles.
St Lucia’s final two goals came in the dying moments of play amidst a series of raids on the Curacao defence.
Tafari Charlemagne added additional insurance in the 87th minute after a brilliant solo run past three defenders.
Kurt Frederick completed the scoring in the 92nd minute three minutes after Delando Felipe fouled a St Lucian player, drew his second yellow card and was sent off.
In the early game, Myron Samuel gave St Vincent the lead in the 30th minute before Gregory Richardson equalised in the first minute of first-half injury time.
A Cornelius Stewart goal – his third straight match with a goal – ensured St Vincent the victory over Guyana.
The Golden Jaguars have lost nine of their last 10 games since a 2-1 victory over Grenada in a February 21 friendly.
Richardson’s goal was the first in nearly three full games for Guyana, who lost their previous matches to Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying.
Group 2 will resume tomorrow with Curacao vs Guyana, and St Lucia vs St Vincent.
The winner of Group 2 will advance to the second round and join Grenada, Haiti and French Guiana, while the runner-up also will advance, joining Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname
St Lucia controlled the momentum and led two-nil at the half after Tremain Paul, the first of five different scorers, converted in the 14th minute and Magnam Valcin found the nets a minute before the interval.
However, Isenia Alexander, trying to rally a Curacao second half revival, scored in the 48th minute of play.
But their efforts to win back the momentum were short-lived as the homeside, cheered on by local supporters, restored the two-goal advantage three minutes later off the boot of Eden Charles.
St Lucia’s final two goals came in the dying moments of play amidst a series of raids on the Curacao defence.
Tafari Charlemagne added additional insurance in the 87th minute after a brilliant solo run past three defenders.
Kurt Frederick completed the scoring in the 92nd minute three minutes after Delando Felipe fouled a St Lucian player, drew his second yellow card and was sent off.
In the early game, Myron Samuel gave St Vincent the lead in the 30th minute before Gregory Richardson equalised in the first minute of first-half injury time.
A Cornelius Stewart goal – his third straight match with a goal – ensured St Vincent the victory over Guyana.
The Golden Jaguars have lost nine of their last 10 games since a 2-1 victory over Grenada in a February 21 friendly.
Richardson’s goal was the first in nearly three full games for Guyana, who lost their previous matches to Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying.
Group 2 will resume tomorrow with Curacao vs Guyana, and St Lucia vs St Vincent.
The winner of Group 2 will advance to the second round and join Grenada, Haiti and French Guiana, while the runner-up also will advance, joining Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname
