Haiti's Ronaldo Damus (pictured) celebrates after scoring against Bermuda in a Caribbean under-20 qualifying semifinal on October 28, 2016. (Photo: David Heykoop)
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao – Antigua & Barbuda and Haiti will meet for the Caribbean under-20 qualifying title after facing two different challenges in the semifinals contested Friday at the Stadion Ergilio Hato.
In the tightly-contested opener, after a 0-0 draw, Antigua & Barbuda got past Trinidad & Tobago, 5-4 on penalty kicks. The Sugar Boyz converted each of their five attempts from the spot, with Vashami Allen, Javorn Stevens, Luther Wildin, Shalon Knight and Jarmarlie Stevens on target.
The Trinidadians found the back of the net on the first and last pair of attempts, but Kareem Riley missed on the third.
Haiti improved to 6W-1D-0L overall in the competition, concluding the doubleheader with a 3-0 win over Bermuda.
Jonel Desire (6’) gave Les Grenadiers an early lead, while Ronaldo Damus (47’) and Roberto Louima (63’) completed the scoreline with second-half strikes. Damus’ goal was his team-high fourth in the finals.
On Sunday, also at the Stadion Ergilio Hato, Trinidad & Tobago and Bermuda will meet for the third place, while Antigua & Barbuda and Haiti will square off afterwards in the final.
Each of the four sides had previously earned places in the next CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, which will be played in Costa Rica from February 17-March 5, 2017. The other participants in the 12-team field are: the host nation, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, St. Kitts & Nevis and the United States.
2016 CARIBBEAN UNDER-20 QUALIFYING – FINAL ROUND
Curacao
October 21-30, 2016
SCHEDULE
GROUP A (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
Antigua & Barbuda 3-2-1-0-6-4-7
Bermuda 3-1-1-1-6-5-4
St. Kitts & Nevis 3-1-1-1-6-6-4
Curacao 3-0-1-2-2-5-1
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’
October 25, 2016
Antigua & Barbuda 3, Bermuda 2
Mohammad Hakeem 1’, 11’; Javorn Stevens 40’ / Mazhye Burchall 53’, 86’
Curacao 1, St. Kitts & Nevis 3
Jeremy Cijntje 42’ / Javier Sutton 23’; Delano Hodge 67’; Dakarai Phipps 76’
GROUP B (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
Haiti 3-2-1-0-7-2-7
Trinidad & Tobago 3-1-2-0-4-0-5
Cuba 3-0-2-1-2-3-2
St. Lucia 3-0-1-2-2-10-1
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’
October 26, 2016
Cuba 1, St. Lucia 1
Darien Guerra 21’ / own-goal, Ronald Aranda 84’
Trinidad & Tobago 0, Haiti 0
SEMIFINALS (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
October 28, 2016
Antigua & Barbuda 0, Trinidad & Tobago 0 (5:4 pens)
Haiti 3, Bermuda 0
Jonel Desire 6’; Ronaldo Damus 47’; Roberto Louima 63’
THIRD PLACE MATCH (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
October 30, 2016: Trinidad & Tobago v Bermuda
FINAL (Stadion Ergilio Hato – Willemstad, Curacao)
October 30, 2016: Antigua & Barbuda v Haiti
