Good Luck to Antigua vs Cuba Today

[Macmoish]

Leigertwood, Parker and Cochrane (presumably) against Cuba

boxscorenews.com/cuba-antigua-close-in-on-caribbean-cup-finals-p8300-68.htm

Cuba, Antigua close in on Caribbean Cup Finals

Confederation of North, Central American & Caribbean Association Football

November 13, 2010

ST. JOHN'S, Antiuga -- Cuba and Antigua & Barbuda both earned draws Friday to move within sight of the final round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.

Antigua drew 0-0 with Dominca and Adonis Soler scored the equalizer in the 87th minute to help Cuba, which three times rallied from a one-goal deficit to finish 3-3 with Suriname.

Cuba and Antigua remained tied atop Group G with four point apiece and headed for a Sunday showdown. With Suriname and Dominica both three points back - and also scheduled for a Sunday match, a draw in either game would be enough to send Cuba and Antigua to Martinique for a chance at the Caribbean Cup title and a spot in next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Wensly Christopher and Stefano Rijssel gave Suriname the lead in the eight and 50th minutes only to have Armando Isidoro and Alan Ofarril equalize in the 45th and 65th minutes.

Derrick Garden appeared to have scored the winner in the 80th, but Soler - who entered the goal on eight minutes before for Ofarril - worked his way free on a free kick and headed in from six meters to deny the Surinamese.

In the second game, Dominica goalkeeper Glenson Prince withstood 23 shots and thwarted host Antigua to disappoint a crowd of 5,637 at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Prince was aided by his teammates Prince Austrie and Dominican captain Rasheed Bertrand, both of whom cleared balls off the line.

Dominica nearly had the winner in the 89th minute, but Bertrand's shot on the counter went just wide of the post.

boxscorenews.com/cuba-antigua-close-in-on-caribbean-cup-finals-p8300-68.htm

[Macmoish]

Win, lose or draw, Antigua now go through

dcc.digicelfootball.com/en/news/60-dcc-match-38-dominica-0-vs-suriname-5

[Macmoish]

Twas a draw...

Antigua & Barbuda: 18. Keita Decastro 17 George Dublin (Captain) 5 Dave Carr 4 Karanja Mack 6 Joshua Parker 13 Mikele Leightwood 12 Justin Cochrane 16 Peter Byers(9 Kerry Skepple 82 mins) 14 Randolph Burton (8. Quinton Griffith 90 mins) 11. Jamie Thomas (7. Gason Gregory 75 mins) 20 Akeem Thomas
Coach: Rowan Benjamin


The Baijan Reporter

Antigua and Cuba qualify to Digicel Finals: Entertaining draw completes Digicel Cup Qualification process

ShareAntigua & Barbuda and Cuba played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in the famous ARG to ensure they both qualified to the Digicel Cup Finals in the final game of the qualification process for the Digicel Caribbean Cup.

As long standing bitter rivals Cuba and Antigua & Barbuda started the game at a quick pace. With only 4 minutes gone the lethal little Cuban midfielder Campanioni should have opened the scoring when the long delivery throw from Cantillo, reminiscent of a Rory Delap bullet like throw into the box for Stoke in the English Premier League, found the little man in acres of space but his header was high and wide.

Buoyed on by a massive home crowd on a glorious Sunday afternoon, Antigua & Barbuda edged forward and were unlucky not to go ahead when Akeem Thomas had his header cleared off the line after he met the inch perfect corner with power and conviction.

The large crowd were on their feet after 25 minutes when Jamie Thomas seemed to be hauled down by Campanioni only for Jamaican Referee Courtney Campbell to adjudge against the Antiguan player and show him a yellow card for simulation. While no one else in the large crowd agreed with Campbell’s decision that Thomas had dived, it mattered little as the free out eased the pressure on Cuba.

Cuba took heed of this warning and started to dominate possession with more focus on moving the ball quicker with some great movement from their midfielders and linking with their front men. On 36 minutes Isidoro found himself in front of Antiguan keeper Decastro but his lobbed effort bounced off the cross bar and away. Isidoro again had a chance after a great cut back from strike partner Duarte Pla but his effort was blocked on the line by Mack and cleared away.

Duarte Pla had the chance of the match on 41 minutes when he raced clear from the half way line for a one on one with Decastro. The Antiguan keeper held his nerve, stood tall and smothered Duarte Pla’s effort to the relief of the screaming home crowd.


The Digicel Cup Finals will be played from November 26 through to December 5 in Martinique with live television broadcast worldwide courtesy of Digicel as well as live radio coverage, images and updates on www.digicelfootball.com

The second half started at the same quick pace and the Antiguan crowd did not have long to wait until their team had the ball in the net after a lovely strike from Jamie Thomas flew in off the post, only for Campbell to rule out any celebrations as he had called for an infringement moments before Thomas’s effort.

On 57 minutes Campanioni was unlucky to see his glanced header zip inches past Decastro’s post as Cuba looked to exploit the weakness of left back Karanja Mack who obviously had forgotten to eat his cabbage in his pre match meal.

With both sides wanting to take the initiative the quality of play was good as the technical ability of both sides showed through. Both coaches stood by the side of the technical area willing on their players and trying to ensure that one small change or movement would lead to the crucial opening goal.

Despite some nice possession play from both sides, neither team could carve open the opposition as they closed out the remaining moments content to match each others play and allow the clock to run down to ensure a tied game.

The result left both sides standing alone on top of Group G on 5 points each with Suriname in third position a point behind. The final placements ensured that Cuba and Antigua & Barbuda qualify to the Digicel Cup Finals where they will join hosts Martinique, holders Jamaica, and other qualified teams Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada and Guadeloupe.

Antigua & Barbuda: 18. Keita Decastro 17 George Dublin (Captain) 5 Dave Carr 4 Karanja Mack 6 Joshua Parker 13 Mikele Leightwood 12 Justin Cochrane 16 Peter Byers(9 Kerry Skepple 82 mins) 14 Randolph Burton (8. Quinton Griffith 90 mins) 11. Jamie Thomas (7. Gason Gregory 75 mins) 20 Akeem Thomas
Coach: Rowan Benjamin

Cuba: 1. Odelin Hernandez 3 Yenier Molina 16 Reysnader Cervantes 4 Hanier Cantillo 8 Jaine Valencia (Captain) 14 Alianni Montoya 2 Carlos Francisco Serrano 15 Armando Isidoro 7. Marcel Campanioni (7. Dagoberto Beckles 90 mins) 11. Sander Cervantes (13. Adonis Soler mins)19. Leonel Duarte Pla (10. Roberto Balmaseda 70 mins)
Coach: Raul Triana

Referee: Courtney Campbell (Jamaica)
Assistant Referee 1: Diom Neil (T&T)
Assistant Referee 2: Mentor Baptiste (T&T)

Match Commissioner : Victor Daniels (Grenada)



bajanreporter.com/antigua-and-cuba-qualify-to-digicel-finals-entertaining-draw-completes-digicel-cup-qualification-process/