Tuesday, October 28; Pedro Marrero Stadium, Havana, Cuba: Barbados secured its place in the Digicel Caribbean Championships Finals with a 2-1 victory against an improved Netherlands Antilles last night.
Barbados was on the front foot from the get go, knowing that an outright victory would secure its place in the next round. Just six minutes after kick-off, Barbados had the start they dreamt of when Bryan Neblett was hacked in the box by Tomsjansen Soranely, leaving Jamaican referee Kevin Morrison no choice but to point to the spot. Norman Forde stepped up to take it and slotted home coolly past Pisas Marcello in goal, who had actually guessed the right way but could do little to stop the ball from nestling into the bottom left corner.
The Netherlands Antilles found getting possession, much less keeping it, virtually impossible in the opening quarter of an hour with Barbados barely putting a pass out of place. It was their possession football that was ultimately the undoing of the Netherlands Antilles as its frustration forced the team into giving away free-kicks in dangerous territory.
In minute 20, there was another defensive breach when a Rashida Williams free-kick from the left side of the box blasted past the defender on the near post before it volleyed into the net by the experienced John Parris – if you blinked, you would have missed it.
Bryan Neblett was a real livewire along the right wing, and it was an obvious tactic of Coach Thomas Jordan that Barbados continued to squeeze the Netherlands Antilles from the sides. In minute 32, a Rohan Hall corner was met powerfully by Forde, only for the veteran to be denied by the post. Despite dominating possession in the first half, Barbados was unlucky not to improve on their tally.
Up until minute 45, the Barbadian defense was like barbed wire, snagging any attackers and denying the Netherlands Antilles on its rare jaunts up-field. However, a defensive lapse by the usually surefooted Barry Skeete gave away the security codes, allowing Bicintini Joshua to latch on to Skeetes’ lame back-pass before using the outside of his right boot to produce a neat finish at the far post and halve the lead before the halftime break.
Having rattled the Barbadian cage before the break, the Netherlands Antilles came out with confidence in the second half and actually looked like scoring again. But it was the introduction of substitute ‘Super’ Mario Harte that went closest for Barbados, following a deep cross from the right, which Harte controlled on his chest before unleashing a wicked volley from the edge of the 18 yard box, that just fizzed past the nearside post.
Barbados thought it had wrapped it up in minute 84 when Riviere Williams freekick was volleyed in by big Barry Skeete, who thought he’d made up for his earlier defensive mishap, only to look over his shoulder and see the neon checkered flag raised on the far side for offside.
Skeetes’ shot was the last of the game as Barbados managed to hold the Netherland Antilles at bay and guarantee its place in the finals of the Digicel Caribbean Championships.
Barbados: 1. Adrian Chase, 2. Barry Skeete, 3. Jonathan Straker, 5. Bryan Neblett, 6. Rohan Hall, (16. Andre Daniel – min 80), 7. Donovan Lavine (13. Mario Harte – min46), 17. John Parris, 10. Norman Forde, 15. Romelle Burgess, 14. Angus Doyle (9. Riviere Williams – min 75), 12. Rashida Williams
Subs: 18. Bentley Springer, 8. Brian Gay, 11. Jamar Watson,
Netherland Antilles: 6. Chayron Anastasia, 10. Ashar Bernandus(17. Rishendes Marceli – min 82), 5. Joshua Bicintini, 12. Rishendel Doran, 14. Curly Hooi, 2. Jervine Mook, 20. Djarston Torbed, 27. Marcello Pisas, 8. Demy Rosario, 11. Soranley Tomsjansen (7. Everon Espacia – min 87), 15. Joel Victoria
Subs: 1. Rowendy Summer, 9. Kevin Van Velhen, 3. Rugene Virginie,
Referee: Kevin Morrison (Jamaica).
