SAINT LUCIA’S National Senior Men’s Football team can take a bow despite losing to El Salvador 2 – 0 on Tuesday evening at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground (DSCG) in front of a crowd of close to 1200 fans.
The El Salvadorians were held to a goalless draw in the first half of the encounter showing their frustration but staying on top of their game plan despite squandering at least three scoring opportunities to Saint Lucia’s two. Saint Lucia on the other hand was too flat footed up front up until the 74th minute of play.
On the resumption following a 15 minute break, the deadlock was finally broken as El Salvador went ahead in the 68th minute when No. 11 Rodolfo Zelaya scored in a melee (soft goal).
No. 17 Chaim Roserie a substitute for Saint Lucia replaced Kurt Frederick and immediately went into overdrive running on the left flank; in the 80th minute his powerful right foot shot to goal had El Salvador custodian and Captain Henry Hernandez in all sorts of trouble in an attempt to save and deny Saint Lucia the equalizer. Hernandez, soon after, had to be treated on the field by the team physiotherapist for an injury he sustained.
In the 79th minute Head Coach for the Saint Lucia side Jamaal Shabazz made another substitution this time bringing in Vieux Fort South prolific striker No. 9 Antonio Joseph in place of No. 21 Arron Richards. There was a glimmer of hope for Saint Lucia to at least pull one back as Roserie and Joseph had literally turned on the heat going forward.
In the 86th minute, Joseph’s right foot shot from 30 yards went over the cross bar by a few inches.
However, there was more celebration for El Salvador both on the pitch and on the bench with substitutes when No.19 Juan Carlos – Leal, who came in for No. 16 Oscar Ceren in the 55th minute, extended the advantage in the 88th minute to make it 2-0 and sealed the victory for his team.
With four minutes of added time, Saint Lucia once again started to move the ball around, showing some kind of urgency but it was a little too late as the final whistle was blown by referee Erick Lezama of Nicaragua. Final score: El Salvador 2 – Saint Lucia 0.
Saint Lucia’s starting eleven: No.1 Vino Barclett (goalkeeper), No. 2 Kurt Fredrick, No. 3 Melvin Doxilly, No.4 Pernal Williams, No. 8 Zaine Pierre, No. 10 Bradley Nestor, No. 11 Malik St.Prix, No.12 Lester Joseph, No. 15 Otev Lawrence, No. 19 Alvinus Myers, and No. 21 Aaron Richard. Team Coach: Jamaal Shabazz.
El Salvador’s starting eleven: No. 1 Henry Hernandez (goalkeeper), No.2 Ibsen Castro, No. 3 Roberto Dominguez, No. 4 Ivan Mancia, No. 6 Narciso Orellana, No. 7 Darwin Ceren, No. 8 Denis Pineda, No.11 Rodolfo Zelaya, No. 12 Marvin Monterroza, No. 16 Oscar Ceren, and No. 17 Juan Barahona. Team coach: Carlos De-Los- Cabos.
Saint Lucia will now look to regroup for their next encounter against the Dominican Republic on Saturday 16th November 2019 at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground (DSCG). Kick off time: 6.00 p.m.
