St. Vincent & the Grenadines' Chavel Cunningham (pictured) in CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying action against visiting Dominica on May 24, 2015, in Kingstown. (Photo courtesy of St. Vincent & the Grenadines Football Federation)
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent & the Grenadines – St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) swept Dominica in a two-match series that concluded Sunday, 5-0 on aggregate, to advance to the first round of Caribbean qualifying for the Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016.
The Vincy Heat prevailed 2-0 in the opener on Friday and followed it up with 3-0 victory two days later. Both matches were played at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.
In the first leg, a fifth minute own-goal by Malcolm Joseph saw Dominica fall behind, 1-0. Oalex Anderson, who scored five goals for the senior national team in last year’s Caribbean Cup, netted from the penalty spot in the 90th minute for an insurance tally.
On Sunday, SVG struck for all of its goals in the last 39 minutes as Anderson (51’), Tevin Slater (70’) and Chavel Cunningham (90’) each found the back of the net.
In the next phase, which is scheduled to be played June 24-28, 2015, in Puerto Rico, the Vincentians will face Group 4 opponents Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and the host nation.
CONCACAF Qualifying for 2016 Olympic Football Tournament
Caribbean Zone
Preliminary Round
May 22, 2015: Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines – Arnos Vale Playing Field (Att: 320)
Dominica 0
St. Vincent & the Grenadines 2 (own-goal in favor of, Malcolm Joseph 5’; Oalex Anderson 90’ pen)
Dominica: Elijah Toulon; Malcolm Joseph, Eustace Marshall, Davorn George, Tristan Alfred (Eli Vigilant 69’), Briel Thomas, Anfernee Frederick (Parker Delroy 64’), Scottie Phillip, Sidney Lockhart, Romario Burgins, Derrickson McDonald (Naeille Lee 43’).
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Lemus Christopher; Vasbert Ledger, Kevin Francis, Danroy Edwards, Deno John, Jahvin Sutherland, Kendall Douglas, Tevin Slater (Dennis Prescott 59’), Kyle Edwards (Chavel Cunningham 46’), Nazir McBurnette (O’Joy De Grads 74’), Oalex Anderson.
R: Leo Clarke (St. Lucia); AR 1: Andrew Phillip (St. Lucia); AR 2: Clifton Garnes (Barbados); 4th: Vivivan Robinson (St. Lucia)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 24, 2015: Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines – Arnos Vale Playing Field (Att: 410)
St. Vincent & the Grenadines 3 (Oalex Anderson 51’; Tevin Slater 70’; Chavel Cunningham 90’)
Dominica 0
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Lemus Christopher; Kevin Francis, Danroy Edwards, Deno John, Jahvin Sutherland, Kendall Douglas (Nazorn Hoyte 53’), Nazir McBurnette, Tevin Slater (Mazique Herbert 74’), Chavel Cunningham, Kyle Raguette (Dennis Prescott 61’), Oalex Anderson.
Dominica: Elijah Toulon; Malcolm Joseph, Eustace Marshall, Chad Phillip, Kennico Soannes (Romario Burgins 67’), Parker Delroy, Sidney Lockhart, Davorn George, Naeille Lee (Gylies Mitchell 67’), Rail Phillip, Tristan Alfred (Eli Vigilant 77’).
R: Vivivan Robinson (St. Lucia); AR 1: Clifton Garnes (Barbados); AR 2: Andrew Phillip (St. Lucia); 4th: Lee Clarke (St. Lucia)
