By Neto Baptiste
Coach of the National Under-20 Men’s Football team Kerry “Arab” Skepple did not hide the fact that the team could have won by a more convincing margin when they faced Turks and Caicos in the Concacaf U20 Qualifiers here on Tuesday, but said the aim was to first secure the win.
Antigua and Barbuda defeated Turks and Caicos 2-1 in a close encounter to move to the top of the standings with six points in Group B of the qualifiers when they met on Tuesday at the ABFA’s Technical Center here in Antigua.
“Goals win matches, and the nature of this competition it was [the goal difference] in terms of a deciding factor in this tournament, so the instructions were, do not rush it because when you start to rush you will get even more frustrated with what you’re doing, so we asked them to take a very patient approach, move the ball, don’t play out of character and once you do that, then we will create chances. We did exactly that, but we weren’t converting our chances,” he said.
Only one team will advance from the group stage and into the next round of the competition, and with Antigua and Barbuda already losing to Suriname, Skepple said that winning and winning big are important factors.
Team Antigua and Barbuda will next play El Salvador on Saturday in a match that could decide which team advances.
Skepple, a former national player, said the preparation has already started.
“Every game is a must-win, and right now we are doing a group session where we discuss and look at areas where we have faltered. We are looking at areas where we need to improve, and we’re looking at areas where we have done good things and now we are trying to balance-off the scale now and get the good things we are doing, and try to do it consistently going into this final match where it is a must-win for us,” the coach said.
After playing to a scoreless first half, the Young Benna Boys took the lead in minute 54 via a Javaughn Jarvis strike. The home team went up two-nil in minute 84 when substitute Christopher Douglas netted from close range.
The match was Antigua and Barbuda’s third, while Turks and Caicos remain at the bottom of the standings without a point after two showings.
Meanwhile, in Tuesday’s other Group B clash, Suriname overcame Guyana 4-1 also at the ABFA Technical Center.
Robinio Pinas (7), Jermaine Rijssel (35), Djaier Prijor (85) and Donagay Misidjang (89) all scored once for Suriname while Matrim Martin (76) scored the lone goal for Guyana.
Suriname lay second in the group also with six points, but they have played two matches while El Salvador are in third with four points after two showings. Guyana are second from bottom with one point after three outings.
Antigua and Barbuda will clash with El Salvador on March 2 at 3pm.