By Samuel Peters
Antigua and Barbuda had to fight for a point in their match against the Cayman Islands who were favourites to win the match up until the last minute.
It was indeed a thrilling match from the start with the Islanders taking first strike in the 13th minute, when Rajon Booth outran the opposition’s defence to send a pass to Wilford Savia who easily tapped it in.
Then two minutes later, playmaker Luke Harney-Rogerson equalised, scoring his second goal of the tournament from a corner kick.
The ball was hit perfectly, evading all and dropping into the back of the net to draw the match even at one-all.
The Benna Boys went ahead in the extra minutes of the first half, thanks to a header from Captain Shamar Walters.
Another corner was taken by Harney-Rogerson who was able to pinpoint Walters, who was able to put the shot into the right side of the goal to close out the first half with the advantage for Antigua.
When the second half commenced, it didn’t take long for Cayman Islands to draw level as Booth brought up his second goal of the match after receiving another pass to beat the advancing goalkeeper in the 37th minute.
The Islanders then went ahead in the 68th minute, after a built up play consisting of one touch passes to which substitute Jashawn Cousins scored.
It seemed as if it was curtains on Antigua and Barbuda but it was not so.
The final free kick taken by Kharique Joseph for the Benna Boys saw all the players lined up around the 18-yard box.
The kick saw the ball sent up to the Cayman Islands first line of defence blocked away, to which Joseph was then sent back the ball over the wall to find Shumba Thomas.
The striker made the most of what was determined to be the final scoring opportunity as he utilised his tall and slender frame to skilfully jump and place a header over the keeper to draw the match three all. The Benna Boys won their first match against Guyana and lost their second against St Vincent and the Grenadines.
They will play their final match against Barbados on Tuesday afternoon.
