Action from the Caribbean under-20 qualifier between Trinidad & Tobago (white jersey) and St. Lucia on October 24, 2016, in Willemstad.
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao – Haiti (2W-0D-0L, 6 points) became the first team to clinch a place in the Caribbean under-20 semifinals and earn a berth in the 2017 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, when it posted a 2-1 win over Cuba (0-1-1,1), 2-1, in the second match of a Group B doubleheader on Monday at the Stadion Ergilio Hato.
Although they didn’t win by three or more goals for the first time in the competition, the Haitians improved to 5-0-0 overall
Canada-based Jimmy-Shammar Sanon gave Les Grenadiers a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, but Lazaro Tuero leveled in the 68th minute. Jonel Desire netted the game-winning goal with 10 minutes remaining in normal time.
In the nightcap, Nicholas Dillion (5’, 28’, 70’) struck for three goals and Trinidad & Tobago (1-1-0, 4) took sole possession of second place with a 4-0 win over St. Lucia. New York Red Bulls defender Noah Powder (65’) added the other goal.
“It felt great to get three goals especially knowing that we needed to win this match to maintain a good chance of qualifying for the next round,” Dillon told TTFA Media. “Scoring these three goals was just my pay back to the two national coaches (Brian Willams and Kerry Jamerson) working with me and believing in my potential. I knew I had to come good and lead the team to the win so I was also happy to deliver for my team.”
In first-round play, Dillon exploded for five goals as T&T topped Turks & Caicos Islands, 11-0.
The tournament resumes Tuesday with the last two Group A matches. Bermuda and Antigua & Barbuda will meet with the winner being assured of finishing in first place. The loser will have to wait on the Curacao-St. Kitts & Nevis result in order to discover its fate.
The competition, which runs through October 30, will qualify the top five finishers to the next CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, which will be played in Costa Rica from February 17-March 5, 2017. The 12-team field already includes the host nation; Central American qualifiers El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, as well as automatic North American entrants Canada, Mexico and the United States.
2016 CARIBBEAN UNDER-20 QUALIFYING – FINAL ROUND
Curacao
October 21-30, 2016
SCHEDULE
GROUP A (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
October 21, 2016
Bermuda 3, St. Kitts & Nevis 1
Knory Scott 26’; Tevahn Tyrell 30’, 37’ / Tahir Hanley 17’
Curacao 0, Antigua & Barbuda 1
Javorn Stevens 86’
October 23, 2016
St. Kitts & Nevis 2, Antigua & Barbuda 2
Delano Hodge 9’; Tahir Hanley 48’ / Javorn Stevens 23’; Luther Wildin 86’
Curacao 1, Bermuda 1
Leeroy Schorea 32’ / Tevahn Tyrell 79’
Bermuda 2-1-1-0-4-2-4
Antigua & Barbuda 2-1-1-0-3-2-4
Curacao 2-0-1-1-1-2-1
St. Kitts & Nevis 2-0-1-1-3-5-1
October 25, 2016: Antigua & Barbuda v Bermuda; Curacao v St. Kitts & Nevis
GROUP B (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
October 22, 2016
Haiti 5, St. Lucia 1
Roberto Louima 6’; Ronaldo Damus 23’, 83’, 86’; Kenley Dede 78’ / Keeroy Lionel 80’
Trinidad & Tobago 0, Cuba 0
October 24, 2016
St. Lucia 0, Trinidad & Tobago 4
Nicholas Dillon 5’, 28’, 70’; Noah Powder 65’
Haiti 2, Cuba 1
Jimmy-Shammar Sanon 6’; Jonel Desire 80’ / Lazaro Tuero 68’
Haiti 2-2-0-0-7-2-6
Trinidad & Tobago 2-1-1-0-4-0-4
Cuba 2-0-1-1-1-2-1
St. Lucia 2-0-0-2-1-9-0
October 26, 2016: Cuba v St. Lucia; Trinidad & Tobago v Haiti
SEMIFINALS (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
October 28, 2016: Group A winner v Group B runner-up; Group B winner v Group A runner-up
THIRD PLACE MATCH (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
October 30, 2016: Semifinal losers
FINAL (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
October 30, 2016: Semifinal winners
