BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Nottingham Forest striker Lyle Taylor netted a brace for Montserrat but Antigua and Barbuda hit back to earn a share of the points in one of several opening round 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers across the region Wednesday.
Playing in Group A at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Curacao’s capital Willemstad, the 30-year-old United Kingdom-based Taylor put Montserrat ahead from the spot in the seventh minute before doubling their lead in the 26th.
However, Eugene Kirwan pulled one back for Antigua in the 23rd minute before D’Andre Bishop drew them level on the stroke of half-time.
El Savador, Grenada and US Virgin Islands are also included in Group A of the CONCACAF qualifiers.
In Paramaribo, a strong Suriname made light work of Cayman Islands with a 3-0 drubbing at the Franklin Essed Stadium.
Shaquille Pinas, who plays in Holland’s top flight, handed Suriname the lead in the 22nd minute before Galatasaray forward Ryan Donk added a second for the hosts in the 38th.
Up 2-0 at the break, Suriname controlled the Group B contest in the second half before Israel-based Gleofilo Vlijter notched a third 14 minutes from the end, to put a seal on the points.
Aruba, Bermuda and Canada make up the remaining teams in the group.
In the doubleheader staged in the Dominican Republic, the hosts came away with a narrow 1-0 victory over Dominica in Group D while St Kitts and Nevis also edged Puerto Rico by the same margin in Group F.
Playing at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in the country’s capital, a Fran Nunez 52nd minute strike was all the Dominican Republic needed to put away their English-peaking Caribbean opponents in a physical affair which lacked any real quality.
At the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristobal, west of the capital, Viceroy Nelson netted in the 42nd minute to ensure St Kitts full points.
Group D also comprises Anguilla, Barbados and Panama while Group F is completed by the Bahamas, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
In the Group C game at the Doroteo Guamuch Flores Stadium in Guatemala City, the home side came away with a 1-0 win over Cuba courtesy of a Luis Martinez 59th minute strike.
Group C will also feature British Virgin Islands, Curacao and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
World Cup - CONCACAF Qualification: 1st round
Group A
Antigua and Barbuda 2 v 2 Montserrat
Group C
Guatemala 1 v 0 Cuba
Group D
Dominican Republic 1 v 0 Dominica
Group F
St. Kitts and Nevis 1 v 0 Puerto Rico
International - Friendlies
Japan 3 v 0 South Korea
India 1 v 1 Oman
Saudi Arabia 1 v o Kuwait
USA 4 v 1 Jamaica
<St Lucia Gov't responds to withdrawal>
Meanwhile, regarding news on Tuesday that St Lucia has withdrawn from FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the government of St Lucia Government issued the following release.
"The Government of Saint Lucia is disappointed by reports that Saint Lucia has withdrawn from the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a decision taken without any consultation with the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports by the St. Lucia Football Association (SLFA). The St. Lucia Football Association is an independent organization that governs football within Saint Lucia.
The Government of Saint Lucia through its Sports Infrastructure Programme made it a priority to upgrade the Soufriere Mini Stadium to host World Cup qualifiers and the Government of Saint Lucia is clear and unambiguous in its commitment to upgrade facilities for this particular objective.
The Government of Saint Lucia is further concerned about reports that the “authorities” turned down requests for special training permissions for a national football team. The Government can confirm that we have no record of a request being made by the SLFA to have a team train for World Cup Qualifiers. Neither the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports nor the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has received such a request.
Despite the fact that high contact sports are not allowed under the current Covid-19 protocols due to the high risk the Government has made special provisions for national athletes and this is reflected in the legislation. The Government of Saint Lucia, through the Ministry of Health, recently facilitated training for Platinum FC from Vieux Fort South who are due to travel in April for a tournament in Curacao. The Government will also be assisting with the vaccination of these footballers and team members. The Ministry of Health has also facilitated some netballers and other athletes who requested one-on-one training or training with strict protocols.
Hopefully, the Football Association will engage with the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports and local footballers to resolve this matter. We look forward to the full clarification from the Saint Lucia Football Association as to the reasons for Saint Lucia’s withdrawal.
The Government of Saint Lucia has made significant investments in sports in Saint Lucia, including football, with the establishment of the Sports Academy and the upgrading of all our sporting facilities in order to attract regional and international tournaments. The Government will continue to do all it can to facilitate the advancement of our athletes and Saint Lucia as a leader in sports. The Government sees the participation in activities such as World Cup Qualifiers as critical to the development of sports and has done all in its power to facilitate the involvement of our athletes."