FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, CMC – St Kitts and Nevis took the problematic route to their first-ever group stage of a CONCACAF Gold Cup when they held their nerve just long enough to beat French Guiana on penalties here Tuesday.
Playing in the final qualifier of the evening at the DRV PNK Stadium, St Kitts converted all four of their spot kicks. At the same time, French Guiana missed twice, the Eastern Caribbean side booking their spot in a tricky Group A against hosts the United States, Caribbean powerhouses Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Tiquanny Williams had put St Kitts ahead in the 41st minute for a precious 1-0 lead at the break, but Arnold Abelinti’s penalty in the 53rd minute for a handball in the box leveled the game.
With the contest forced into spot kicks, both teams converted their openers before goalkeeper Julani Archibald dived to his right to save Loïc Baal’s weak effort to hand St Kitts the edge.
Both teams scored their third efforts, but once Yohan Marmot was denied, it was left up to substitute Mervin Lewis, who blasted in the following all-important penalty to send St Kitts through.
“I feel wonderful, I feel great,” said Archibald, who also came up trumps in another penalty shootout last Friday in their opening game against Curacao.
“Not only my one is the hero, my colleagues, my teammates, the coaching staff – all of us are the heroes. We fight for this badge (St Kitts and Nevis crest) for everyone back home in our country.
“It is historic for us, we’re going to celebrate it, and then we’re going to get down and prepare for the game on Sunday.”
St Kitts will now take on Trinidad and Tobago in their opening group fixture here next Sunday before traveling to St Louis to clash with giants United States in their second game next Tuesday.
They will close out their campaign against the Reggae Boyz in Santa Clara, California on July 2, Archibald stressing St Kitts would be hoping to make a mark in the group stage.
“When you qualify for the Gold Cup, it’s historic for us as a small nation, but we’ll just go and compete because [there are] 11 players on the field at the start of the game, so we’ll just go and compete,” he said.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Guyana as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Guadeloupe, Liam Gordon’s 18th-minute own goal and Andreaw Gravillon’s 57th-minute strike sealing the Golden Jaguars’ fate.
And in the other game, Martinique also defeated Puerto Rico 2-0 to book their spot in the group stage.
Guadeloupe will play in Group D alongside Canada, Guatemala, and Cuba, while Martinique will campaign in Group C with Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador.
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