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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
July 9 - 15, 2011
FIFA World Cup preliminary qualifying round, first leg:
Bahamas beat TCI 4-0 By Paul Baker at the National Stadium TURKS and Caicos Islands saw their 2014 World Cup dreams shattered by the Bahamas last Saturday. The visitors cruised to a 4-0 success in what was a one-sided preliminary qualifying round contest at the National Stadium. The result leaves TCI needing a minor miracle when they travel to Nassau for the second leg on Saturday, although even their most optimistic followers will have already conceded defeat. Hopes had been high going into the game with the home side ranked five places ahead of their neighbours in the official FIFA ratings. But a nervy and disjointed display left the 1,050-strong crowd disappointed and reflecting on what could have been. Both sides took time to settle in blustery conditions and those early exchanges were riddled with errors. But it was TCI who managed to carve the first opening on seven minutes when Billy Forbes broke down the left before squaring into the path of Lenford Singh. Frustratingly his tame shot was easily dealt with by Raynaldo Sturrup in the Bahamas goal, although the outcome might have been very
The Bahamas stand a good chance of moving to the next round.
different had he managed to convert. The hosts then had a penalty appeal turned down when Dana Veth appeared to handle in the six-yard box, but despite that bright passage of play, it was as close as TCI came to breaking the deadlock. Gradually Bahamas began to take control and Michael Bethel and Mackenson Altidor both wasted decent opportunities to open the scoring with close range efforts midway through the half. But the visitors eventually got their noses in front on 32 minutes thanks to some nice skill from Demont Mitchell. He beat two opponents in midfield before finding Nesley Jean with a pin-point ball over the top, leaving the lively striker simply to lob coolly
over the on-rushing Raymondson Azemard. Two minutes later it was game over as Lesly St Fleur exposed a static TCI defence with a jinking run down the left. His centre picked out Cameron Hepple who was crudely upended as he shaped to pull the trigger. Hepple himself converted the resultant penalty to effectively put the contest out of TCI’s reach. The second half was all one-way traffic with the Bahamas dominating proceedings. And they should have extended their lead on 50 minutes when a mistake by home defender, Philip Shearer, almost let Jean in for his second. More poor defending by the out-
of-sorts Shearer then gifted St Fleur an opportunity that he blazed over the top, before the Rake and Scrape Boys eventually made it 3-0 on the hour. Again St Fleur was given acres of space down the left and he crossed for Jean to rifle unchallenged into the roof of the net. TCI barely threatened after that as their inability to get the ball down and knock it about cost them dear. And the loss of Kevin Speer to injury didn’t help their cause either as Hepple, Demont and St Fleur all went close for Bahamas. However the hosts almost gave their vocal supporters something to cheer about four minutes from time as Singh forced a good save from Sturrup after some excellent approach play from Jack McKnight.
But despite that effort, normal service was resumed deep into injury time as the Bahamas wrapped things up with a fourth goal, courtesy of substitute, Jackner Louis. This time it was Jonathan Sykes who cut in from the left and drilled a shot that crashed against the post with Louis on hand to tap in the rebound. The expressions on the faces of the TCI players said it all at full time – a disappointing day at the office for the men in blue. TCI: Azemard, D Glinton, Gibson, Speer (Brumvert 73min), P Glinton, G Glinton, E Jean (McKnight 67min), Shearer, Forbes, Brough, Singh. Subs not used: Hamilton, Francois, Turbyfield, Hassan, Collis, Jones. Bahamas: Raynaldd Sturrup, Sealey, Veth, D Forbes, Altidor (Raymory Sturrup 75min), Mitchell, Bethel (Sykes 75mins), St Fleur (Louis 83min), L Jean, Hepple, Thompson. Subs not used: Hall, Ferguson, Larson, Pratt. Bookings TCI: None Bahamas: St Fleur (diving 63mins), Mitchell (foul 73mins) Attendance: 1,050
Plenty of positives for TCI – Football coach Brough By Paul Baker TCI’s football coach Gary Brough refused to be downhearted despite watching his side’s Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign come crashing off the rails at the National Stadium. Bahamas all but guaranteed progression in the competition with a 4-0 preliminary qualifying round first leg victory over their neighbours. But while disappointed at the result, Brough said there were plenty of positives to come out of the contest. He explained: “We are very disappointed at the result but as time goes on we are beginning to digest the bigger picture. That was a very young side on duty out there and the experience will bode well for the future.
“Eight of the squad are teenagers and so when you look at that bigger picture, there are plenty of positives there for us to work on. “Of course the result hurts but the tie is not over yet and so we’ll regroup, train hard and head to Nassau in a positive frame of mind for the second leg.” Bahamas struck twice either side of the break, but it was goals on 32 and 34 minutes that really put paid to TCI’s chances. Brough added: “Up until their first goal I thought we did okay and competed on equal terms. But the two goals in quick succession were a big blow and I think our inexperience showed in the way we reacted after that. “But credit to Bahamas who I feel played well and, as I have said, we have learned plenty from the game.
“On behalf of all the players I’d like to thank the crowd for their magnificent support and we’re sorry we couldn’t reward them with a better scoreline. But we still have plenty to play for in the tie and hopefully we can give a better account of ourselves away from home.” Meanwhile Bahamas boss, Kevin Davies, was delighted with his side’s performance. He said: “We came here to do a job and we have done it well. I am delighted and I thought we played well. “TCI gave us a few problems early on but once we got to grips with the conditions we settled down nicely. We began to play well and once we got that first goal I thought we were always on top. “We created plenty of chances and our finishing was excellent. We were able to exploit a few weaknesses in the opposition and I thought it was a
Team TCI will have to dig deep in the return clash against the Bahamas on Saturday.
good, disciplined performance.” Despite holding a four-goal advantage, Davies refused to accept the tie was over. “We’re in a good position”, he added, “and people will say we have done the hard work already. But Saturday is another day and we must start all over again. “TCI are a dangerous side and
there’s no reason why they can’t come to us and perform well. So we are certainly not being complacent and there will be no talk of victory until the job is finished. “As I have said, TCI are a good side and I’d like to thank their Football Association for the fantastic hospitality they have afforded us this weekend.”