The Sugar Boys succumbed to their first defeat in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, after they were beaten 4-nil at the BMO Field in Toronto, in front of over ten thousand fans, many of them from St. Kitts and Nevis and other sister Caribbean states.
The game started out with both teams creating chances with the best opportunity falling to George ‘Yellowman’ Isaac, of St. Kitts & Nevis. However his attempt at goal rebounded off the inside of the post, after beating goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos, but failed to cross the line.
The Canadian Coach Stephen Hart demanded an immediate improvement from his troupes, following the 0-0 draw last Friday in St. Kitts. In response the Canadians did deliver setting the tone for future qualifying tournaments.
Canada took the lead in the 27th minute when an Olivier Occean strike gave Canada the lead after some close chances from the Kittitians/Nevisians.
In the 35th minute Canada was awarded a penalty which Captain Dwayne De Rosario drove into the bottom right hand corner of Akil Byron’s goal, to become the joint leader in goal scoring for Canada.
In first half injury time, Josh Simpson ended all hopes of a St. Kitts and Nevis come back when he made good on his opportunity to go into half time with a 3-0 lead.
In the second half Canada enjoyed the bulk of possession but failed to convert it into goals. In the 88th minute goal keeper Akil Byron denied De Rosario from becoming the leading goal scorer but failed to keep out Toussaint Ricketts shot.
The game was St. Kitts & Nevis’ first defeat in World Cup Qualifying matches this year, in which they also only managed to win one game.