Bonaire surge late to capture victory vs. US Virgin Islands

SAINT CROIX, US Virgin Islands – Bonaire held onto their position at the top of Group A of League C on a windy Saturday afternoon at the Bethlehem Soccer Stadium, defeating the US
Virgin Islands 2-0 in a hotly contested affair.

Both teams have developed a reputation for striking early in this competition, so perhaps it is no surprise that the two sides were cautious during the opening period. There were no real quality
chances in the first half, as the teams continued to feel each other out.

One noteworthy moment did come in the 26th minute when a looping cross swung in towards the Bonaire goal and GK Jonas Lafeber bobbled the ball, but several Bonaire defenders
quickly rushed to his aid and quelled any potential threat.

The best chance of the match for the home side no doubt came in the 77th minute, when John
Engerman’s thunderbolt bounced off the post right to the foot of Ramesses Moore-
McGuiness, who will be wishing he could get a do-over on what would have been a simple finish from just a few feet in front of an open goal.

The deadlock was finally broken by who else but Ayrton Cicilia, who has no doubt been Bonaire’s best player of the competition thus far. Cicilia received the ball from not much more
than 12 yards out and buried a shot into the far corner to give Bonaire the 1-0 advantage in the
81st minute.

Christopher Isenia then doubled the lead for the visitors in the 84th minute, with somewhat of a
mirror image of Cicilia’s goal moments earlier.

The win moves Bonaire up to sole possession of first place in Group A with seven points. The US Virgin Islands remain in second for the time being. These teams will face off again in
Curacao on Tuesday.