Barbados Tridents suffered their third defeat of their 2023/2024 CONCACAF Nations League match-League B, Group B campaign when they lost 5-0 to Dominican Republic at the Wildey Turf Friday evening,
It took just seven minutes for the technically superior visitors to open the scoring, with forward Dorney Romero tapping home from close range. A free kick from 27 yards out deflected off the golden five-man wall and fell favourably to centre half Luiyi de Lucas, who laid it on a plate for 25-year-old Romero to slot home from the six-yard box.
Forwards Ronaldo Vasquez and Edarlyn Reyes combined for the second goal in the 21st minute.
After some brilliant link-up play from Romero, Vasquez was leading a four vs three counter attack against the Barbadian defence. He timed his through ball to perfection and the left footed Reyes raced through on goal and nestled the ball into the far right hand corner, past a helpless Liam Brathwaite.
The contest was over when the third goal went in just before half time. Barbados’ long standing inability to adequately deal with set pieces came to the fore again when defender Ramon Griffith conceded a comical own goal as he headed the well-worked set play past his own keeper, who came off his line to claim the in swinging delivery, despite no attackers being near him.
Heinz Morschell struck a thunderous half volley home for the fourth goal as he received a tidy knock down in the penalty arc from Romero who was proving too difficult for Tridents to handle.
In the dying moments, Andre Applewaithe received a second booking for a needless challenge and the resulting free kick produced the fifth and final goal which crowned Barbados’ heaviest defeat in a home fixture. Late second half substitute Riki Alba tucked away a rebound off the upright which was the thirteenth goal Barbados have conceded so far in the group phase, the most by any side in the competition.
These two sides will face each other again on Monday at the Estadio Complejo Deportivo Moca 86, in the Dominican Republic.
In the other fixture to happen at the Wildey Turf yesterday afternoon, Nicaragua beat Montserrat 3-0 with Juan Luis Perez, Harold Medina and Jacob Montes scoring. (JC)