Source: Caribbean Football Union
Antigua and Barbuda’s Grenades advance to Club Shield quarterfinals; SV Real Rincon go home
SV Real Rincon 1-2 Grenades FC
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao (July 26, 2024)–Grenades FC of Antigua and Barbuda defeated SV Real Rincon of Bonaire 2-1 in the Round of 16 in 2024 CFU Club Shield action on Sunday at Stadion Rignaal Jean Francisca. The win was the second for Grenades and set up a quarterfinal match against defending champions SV Robinhood from Suriname.
Grenades started the game by pressing the Bonaire Premier League six-time champions. They also enjoyed most of the possession in the early stages of the match but couldn’t materialize much on the attack. SV Real Rincon looked menacing on the counter-attacks, forcing Grenades to be defensively disciplined.
Malcolm Stewart was the Grenades’ best player on the day in the center-forward position, operating mainly down the left-hand side. He was menacing to the Rincon defense, squaring a cross to Luis Labrada whose effort on goal went wide of Rishison Frans in goal for SV Real Rincon. Stewart’s pressuring run forced a defensive blunder, and he found himself one-on-one with Frans, but he sent his effort inches wide of the target in the 25’. Rincon tried to mount some pressure on Grenades with some combination play on the left-hand side, resulting in a shot that only found the side netting of Zaieem Scott’s goal.
Frans came up with a big save in the 36’ when Grenades captain Quinton Griffith saw his long-range effort blocked but picked up by Sherman Augustine. Augustine cleverly passed to Keanu Barrett in the penalty area, but Frans’ outstretched leg saved the shot.
Grenades got the break minutes before the half-time whistle through Sherman Augustine. A Griffith free-kick found Augustine on the back post to head home from close range in the 43’ to end the half 1-0. It was his second goal of the tournament.
The game restarted with Grenades hunting for the go-ahead goal, with Barrington Blake trying to test the goalkeeper from a distance. Stewart tried to link with Luis Labrada inside the box, but misguided his pass.
Labrada extended his team’s lead in the 64’ after a Keanu Barrett cross found him unmarked in the box. His first-time shot went flying into the net, and Frans had no chance in goal.
SV Real Rincon tried to mount a comeback in the 78’. Bonaire’s leading all-time scorer captain Ayrton Cicilia sent keeper Scott flying to his left to no avail as the ball nestled in the top left-hand corner of Grenades’ goal, making it 2-1.
Grenades saw out the mounting, ending the game 2-1 and advancing to the Quarterfinals on July 30. They will face stern competition from SV Robinhood, who won the Shield in 2019 and again in 2023. Robinhood also won the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup.
