SVG U-20 footballers grab solitary win in CONCACAF championships

The St Vincent and the Grenadines team to the CONCACAF Under-20 men’s football championships, returned from the USA last weekend, with a solitary win to their credit.

The championships, played at the IMG Academy field, in Bradenton, Florida, saw the Vincentians ending with a 1:4 win/loss ratio
Competing in group A, St Vincent and the Grenadines lone triumph was versus the US Virgin Islands, winning 3-0.

A goal each by Trezine Da Souza (22nd minute), Trivis Fraser, in the 67th minute, and Gidson Francis, in the 84th, accounted for the Vincentians’ tally.

But St Vincent and the Grenadines was defeated by Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the USA and Puerto Rico.

In their opening fixture, St Vincent and the Grenadines, bolted ahead 2-0 over Trinidad and Tobago, with a double strike from Gidson Francis in the 15th and 19th minutes.

Jaydon Prowell cut the deficit in the 39th minute for Trinidad and Tobago.

But goals by Judah Garcia in the second minute of injury time and Mark Ramdeen’s strike in the 5th minute of injury time, sealed a come-from-behind win for Trinidad and Tobago.

Then on Saturday, Trezine Da Souza put St Vincent and the Grenadines one-up in the 22nd minute.

Gleofilo Vijter and Alvaro Verwey, though, netted in the 29th and 30th minutes, respectively, as Suriname took the lead.

A missed penalty by Gidson Francis denied St Vincent and the Grenadines the opportunity to level the match, which ended 2-1 in favour of Suriname.

Last Wednesday, St Vincent and the Grenadines was blanked by the host USA, 6-0.

Anthony Fontana hit a hat-trick for the USA.

And, rounding off their campaign last Friday, St Vincent and the Grenadines was beaten 4-2 by Puerto Rico.

Trivis Fraser and Trezine Da Souza netted for St Vincent and the Grenadines, in the 19th and 37th minutes, respectively.

Scoring for Puerto Rico, Jaden Servana (4th and 68th minutes), Alejandro Rabell (16th minute) and Kevin Mantanez (76th minute).

The USA, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras and Panama, advanced as group winners to the next phase of the championships.