Gale double keeps Barbados perfectly poised as Bonaire breaks through
Key Points(5)
- Barbados produced a dramatic late turnaround to remain unbeaten in the Concacaf Nations League on Monday, while Bonaire finally broke into the win column with a commanding victory in League B action.
- Barbados appeared headed for its first setback when Bermuda took the lead midway through the second half at the BFA’s Technical Centre.
- But Thierry Gale answered twice in seven minutes, transforming a deficit into a 2-1 victory and sending Barbados to the top of Group B with 10 points from four matches.
- The breakthrough came in the 75th minute when Bermuda’s Djair Parfitt finally broke the deadlock after a scoreless opening half.
- Barbados, however, responded almost immediately.
Barbados produced a dramatic late turnaround to remain unbeaten in the Concacaf Nations League on Monday, while Bonaire finally broke into the win column with a commanding victory in League B action.
Barbados appeared headed for its first setback when Bermuda took the lead midway through the second half at the BFA’s Technical Centre. But Thierry Gale answered twice in seven minutes, transforming a deficit into a 2-1 victory and sending Barbados to the top of Group B with 10 points from four matches.
The breakthrough came in the 75th minute when Bermuda’s Djair Parfitt finally broke the deadlock after a scoreless opening half.
Barbados, however, responded almost immediately.
Just four minutes after falling behind, Gale found the net from the middle of the box to restore parity. The forward then completed the comeback in the 82nd minute, giving Barbados all three points and preserving its unbeaten record.
The result moved Barbados ahead of Saint Lucia at the summit and strengthened its position heading into the next phase of the competition.
Saint Lucia stays within striking distance
Saint Lucia remained firmly in contention for the Group B lead after edging Guadeloupe 1-0 to improve to nine points.
The decisive moment arrived early, when Kegan Caull controlled the ball inside the penalty area before unleashing a powerful close-range finish.
The victory leaves Saint Lucia just one point behind Barbados, setting up a tight battle at the top of the group.
Bonaire turns the tables in Trinidad
In Group C, Bonaire finally had reason to celebrate after producing its first Nations League victory with a convincing 4-1 demolition of Grenada at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad.
Grenada made the brighter start and took the lead in the 11th minute through Benjamin Ettienne.
Bonaire's response was immediate, however, with Railey Martijn leveling just two minutes later.
From there, Bonaire seized control.
Berry Sonnenscheinin put Bonaire ahead in the 59th minute before Myron Bostdorp extended the advantage eight minutes later. Ayrton Cicilia completed the emphatic victory in the 83rd minute as Bonaire closed out a four-goal response.
The result marked Bonaire's first victory of the campaign and provided a significant boost in Group C.
Cuba and St Kitts & Nevis remain locked together
The other Group C encounter ended without a winner, with Cuba and St Kitts & Nevis battling to a 2-2 draw.
The point moved both teams to eight, but Cuba claimed first place in the group by virtue of its superior goal difference.
With the latest round of matches complete, the race in Group C remains tightly contested, while Barbados and Saint Lucia continue their battle for supremacy in Group B.
