Trinidad frustrated by Haiti

Jamaica Gleaner.com

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):Hosts Antigua and Barbuda conceded a late goal to squander a share of the points while Trinidad and Tobago were held to a frustrating draw on the opening night of the CFU Caribbean Cup Finals at the Antigua Recreation Ground here Friday.

Playing in Group A, Antigua went down 2-1 to the Dominican Republic in the feature game of the double-header while Trinidad and Tobago failed to find a way around a defiant Haiti.

Dominican Republic now head the group with three points, with Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti on one point, and Antigua yet to garner any.

The hosts looked energetic from the outset and could have gone ahead as early as the second minute when Quinton Griffith struck the post with his free kick.

It was no surprise when they took the lead in the 17th minute through the prolific Peter Byers who beat goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd with an 18-yard volley.

KEPT UP PRESSURE

Antigua kept up the pressure and were nearly rewarded when Tamorley Thomas eluded his markers but the resulting shot was a poor one.

Leading 1-0 at the break, Antigua continued their pressure on resumption but still failed to double their lead.

Against the run of play, Dominican Republic found the back of the net in the 55th minute but had the goal disallowed for off-side.

There was no such error on 74 minutes, however, as Cesar Peralta equalised with a lovely free kick.

HOPES DASHED

Antigua seemed set to at least take a share of the points as the contest headed for full time before Jonathan Frias killed off those hopes in the final minute of regulation time.

Erik Lopez, a 67th-minute substitute, produced a touch of magic with a lovely through ball which Frias ran onto the end of, to beat goalkeeper Molvin James and break the home fans’ hearts.

In the preceding contest, former champions Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti struggled to break down each other and ended with a goal-less stalemate.

Both sides had chances to get on the scoresheet but their respective forwards proved wasteful.

In the opening Group B fixtures late yesterday, Martinique were scheduled to take on Cuba, while title-holders Jamaica were down to face French Guiana.

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