By Samuel Peters
In a thrilling Concacaf Nations League encounter, Dominica’s national team, the “Nature Isle Boys”, clinched a historic 2-1 victory over the Antigua and Barbuda “Benna Boys.” This match, played on Antiguan soil, marked Dominica’s first-ever win against their Caribbean neighbours in seven meetings.
The first half of the match was a quiet affair, with both teams failing to find the back of the net. However, the second half erupted into a spectacle of attacking football, much to the delight of the spectators.
The deadlock was broken in the 46th minute when Dominica’s Chad Bertrand capitalised on a loose ball. Bertrand unleashed a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard box, using the outer portion of his right foot. The strike beat the outstretched arms of Antigua’s goalkeeper Zaiem Scott, recently returned from the Grenades, giving Dominica a 1-0 lead.
The Benna Boys, undeterred by the setback, continued to press forward. Their persistence paid off in the 54th minute when striker Javorn Stevens equalised. Stevens skillfully manoeuvred a loose ball from a deflected Deterville shot past the diving Dominican goalkeeper, bringing the scores level at 1-1.
The joy of Antigua’s equaliser was short-lived as just four minutes later, Dominica executed a brilliant counter-attack that resulted in the winning goal. The experienced Troy Jules delivered a precise ground pass from the left flank, which found its way across the six-yard box to Travist Jules. Waiting at the far post, Travist delicately tapped the ball into the net, securing a 2-1 lead and sending the small contingent of Dominican supporters into ecstatic celebrations.
This victory holds significant importance for Dominica, as it marks their first win against Antigua and Barbuda in seven encounters. The previous head-to-head record stood at three wins for Antigua and three draws.
Despite the loss, Antigua and Barbuda dominated in several key areas:
- Possession: Antigua 60% – Dominica 40%
- Total Shots: Antigua 12 – Dominica 16
- Shot Accuracy: Antigua 42% – Dominica 25%
These statistics highlight the intriguing nature of the match, where Antigua’s possession-based style clashed with Dominica’s effective counter-attacking strategy.
The Benna Boys will look to bounce back from this defeat in their upcoming Concacaf Nations League fixture against Bermuda. The match is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 PM at the Technical Centre. This will be the second meeting between the two sides for the year, with their previous encounter in June ending in a 1-1 draw.
As the Concacaf Nations League progresses, this result adds an interesting dimension to the group dynamics. Antigua and Barbuda will be eager to regain their footing, while Dominica will look to build on this historic victory in their upcoming matches.
