SVG banking on others’ misfortune

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football team participating in the Digicel Caribbean Football Cup in New York is hoping Dominica, which has yet to earn a point, upsets Trinidad and Tobago this Sunday.{{more}}

The Vincentians squandered an opportunity of certainty last Sunday, July 25, at Jefferson High School Stadium in Linden Field, Brooklyn, New York, when they were beaten 2-1 by St Kitts and Nevis.

An equalizing goal by Grayson Alexander in the 35th minute tied things up for the Vincentians, who last year were the beaten finalists.

This was after Javeim Blanchette had converted in the 21st minute for the Kittians.

But a 65th strike by Devaughn Elliott gave St. Kitts the ascendancy, which they held on to until the final whistle.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines players were guilty of muffing several chances.

But Coach, former St. Vincent and the Grenadines defender, Stanley ‘Luxie ‘ Morris, and his team are hoping for a miracle this Sunday, when Trinidad and Tobago with four points, two fewer than St. Vincent and the Grenadines, meet Dominica.

A win by Dominica will place St Vincent and the Grenadines into the play-off.

In other games played last Sunday, Haiti and St Lucia played to a nil-nil draw, while Dominican Republic secured a spot in the next round without even going on the field, as Columbia arrived an hour and a half late for their game, which was more than the stipulated grace period.

The victory put St Kitts in the lead in the Western Zone on nine points from four matches. Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda are currently tied for the second spot after four matches each.

St Vincent and the Grenadines on 6 points; Trinidad and Tobago on 4 points, with Dominica yet to score a point, having one more game against T&T. Jamaica leads the Eastern grouping, followed by St Lucia, Haiti, Dominica, Guyana on 4, and Columbia with no points.

The top three teams in each zone qualify for the play-offs.

In last season’s grand finale, Jamaica beat St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 4-2, on penalty kicks, to record their fifth consecutive lien in the championships and their sixth win overall.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has five titles to its credit in the 19-year-old competition. (RT)