SOURCE: CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL UNION
Antigua and Barbuda and the Cayman Islands play to a draw
Antigua & Barbuda 3-3 Cayman Islands
ARIMA, Trinidad (August 19, 2024)—Antigua and Barbuda scored a goal in second-half extra time to draw their Tier II Group A match against the Cayman Islands 3-3. The teams were playing on Monday at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
A topsy-turvy area saw some early nervy moments for the Antigua and Barbuda team. A 4’ goalmouth scramble was almost their undoing. A partial clearance resulted in Cameron Murray’s shot from a distance being parried away for a corner. The resulting corner kick was swung in dangerously by Murray, causing the Antiguan team some anxious moments.
The young Benna Boys had a half chance of their own in the 9’. Mario Lewis was unfairly brought down on the right side of the penalty area, and the ensuing cross flashed dangerously across the face of the goal with no player from Antigua and Barbuda there to turn the ball towards the goal.
The Cayman Islands grabbed the lead in minute 13. Ra’jon Boothe showed some strength to shrug off the challenge of his marker before squaring to 11 Wilfred Galeano Sevilla to tap in on the back post.
Joshua James looked to drag his team back into the encounter with some purposeful running down the left side for Antigua and Barbuda. James got in behind the Cayman
defense, but his effort was deflected for a corner kick. The resulting corner kick saw Luke Harney-Rogerson produce a moment of magic. Harney-Rogerson curled his right-footed corner kick directly into the roof of the net to grab an equalizer for Antigua and Barbuda in the 15’.
Lewis tried to use his technical ability to unlock the Cayman Islands’ defense. The winger skillfully evaded his marker but had his cross blocked. Moments later, Skipper Shamar Walters turned brilliantly and drove at the defense, but his shot took a deflection and went out for a corner kick. That corner kick would be telling, and it was Harney-Rogerson again with a superb cross. This time, the Antiguan playmaker found Walters at the back post and the forward made no mistake, giving his team the lead on the stroke of halftime in minute 35+3.
The Cayman Islands started the second half the brighter of the two teams. Three minutes had elapsed in the second half when Cooper Nelson played a defence splitting pass, and Boothe was off to the races. The powerfully built forward shrugged off the defender and slotted past the advancing Jamier Thomas in goal for Antigua and Barbuda.
Boothe continued to cause problems for the Antigua and Barbuda back line, making use of his advantage in size and pace. He sought to connect mainly with Nelson and captain Charles Morrison, but the Antigua and Barbuda defense rallied to keep him at bay.
The Antiguan outfit kept probing and came close to taking the lead again. A series of good passes resulted in Walters looking to play Lewis in, but the pass was inches away from his outstretched foot.
The Young Benna Boys’ next attempt on goal in the 48’ with a long-distance effort by Jahdante Griffith. Griffith spotted Eden off his line and went for the spectacular, forcing the custodian to scramble back and tip the ball over the crossbar.
Antigua and Barbuda momentarily thought they had gotten the go-ahead goal in the 62’. A hopeful ball in the penalty area bounced by the Cayman Islands defense, but King Caleb Eden reacted quicker than substitute Shumba Thomas to claim the loose ball.
With the game in the balance and time winding down, both teams committed players to the attack in search of the winning goal.
The Cayman Islands thought they had the match sealed in the 67’. Boothe again was in the mix. The forward used his strength to hold up play in midfield to find Morrison. The Caymanian captain played a telling ball to Jha-Sean Cousins, who shot to the right of Thomas for the Caymanians’ third conversion.
Not to be outdone, the Young Benna Boys grabbed a point in the second-half stoppage time. Thomas headed past Eden after a cross skimmed off the head of a defender. Thomas missed his initial attempt but reacted quickly to get his head to the bouncing ball to level the game 3-3 in minute 70+3.
Both teams get back into action on Tuesday. Antigua and Barbuda play unbeaten Barbados o while the Cayman Islands face Guyana.
