T&T Soca Warriors will be confident of securing a victory against cellar-placed Anguilla in their final Caribbean Football Union Cup Group Five qualifier today from 6 pm at Warner Park Stadium, Basseterre to ensure passage into the next round of competition. For the Hutson "Barber" Charles-coached T&T, the task is simple, avoid defeat and it will finish top of the group. A surprise loss will open the door for either host St Kitts/Nevis or French Guiana to finish top.
Substitute Kevon Carter scored six minutes into the second-half for the Soca Warriors to squeeze out a 1-0 win over host St Kitts/Nevis in front of 1,700 spectators on Friday night to stay top of their four-team group with maximum six points and move within a point of the semifinal round. Assistant coach Derek King was in charge for the match, after Charles was red carded in Wednesday's opening 4-1 win over French Guiana. The Warriors were stretched defensively right until the final minute as the hosts pressed for the equaliser and enjoyed more possession for large portions of the second-half.
They suffered a set-back two minutes before the half, when World Cup veteran Densill Theobald who had marshalled play from the midfield had to be replaced due to an ankle sprain. His replacement, Carter, turned out to be T&T's hero, shooting home from close range on an assist by Clyde Leon, after he was sent through by Jamal Gay. In Friday's first match, French Guiana got a hat-trick from Gary Pigree to whip Anguilla 4-1 and keep its hopes of top spot in the group alive. Ludovic Baal added the other while Terrence Rodgers was on target for the eliminated Anguilla.
In tonight's second match, St Kitts/Nevis tackles French Guiana in the battle for second spot and a possible place in the second round. The second placed team will qualify for the next round, if it amasses six points and a better goal-difference of plus-one, which Barbados ended with in Group Four. Already through to the second round are Group One winner Haiti and runner-up Puerto Rico; Martinique and Suriname, the first and second placed teams from Group Three and Group Four winner, Dominican Republic. The other first round series, Group Two will open on October 21 with Guyana against St Vincent & the Grenadines, and host St Lucia against Curacao at Warner Park in Gros Islet, St Lucia.
Results
T&T 1 (Kevon Carter 51st) vs St Kitts/Nevis 0
French Guiana 4 (Gary Pigree 3rd, 45th, 50th, Ludovic Baal 74th) vs Anguilla 1 (Terrence Rodgers 59th)
Teams
T&T: Jan-Michael Williams (capt), Carlyle Mitchell, Robert Primus, Seon Power (Yellow 78), Joevin Jones, Daniel Cyrus, Hughtun Hector, Keon Daniel (Curtis Gonzales 82nd), Clyde Leon, Densill Theobald (Kevon Carter 43rd) (Willis Plaza 84th), Jamal Gay.
Subs not used: Kareem Moses, Marvin Phillip (goalkeeper), Sylvester Teesdale, Devorn Jorsling
Coach: Hudson Charles (T&T).
St Kitts/Nevis: Julani Archibald, Patrece Liburd, Gerard Williams, Tesfa Robinson, Vaneer Harris, Thrizen Leader, Romaine Sawyers, Devaughn Elliott (Orlando Mitchum 61st), Atiba Harris (Yellow 24), Zephaniah Thomas (Errol O'Loughlin 75th), Ian Lake (Aaron Moses-Garvey 79th).
Subs not used: Akil Grier, Jovaughne Leader, Akil Byron (goalkeeper), Mudassa Howe
Coach: Jeffrey Hazel (St Kitts).
Referee: David Rubalcaba (Cuba).
Standings
Teams P W D L F A GD Pts
T&T 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4 6
St Kitts/Nevis 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3
French Guiana 2 1 0 1 5 5 +0 3
Anguilla 2 0 0 2 1 6 -5 0