MIAMI, Florida, CMC – A first-half hat-trick from midfielder Rianna Cyrus enabled hosts Barbados to start the Concacaf Road to W Gold Cup with a convincing 5-0 win against St Vincent & the Grenadines in Group C of League B on Friday.
Jaden Masters scored a brace, and hosts Bermuda landed a 2-0 win against thea Dominican Republic in another Group C, League B contest in one of two wins for English-speaking Caribbean teams in the tournament that opened this past Wednesday around the confederation, while Cuba rolled past hosts St Lucia 2-1 in Group B of League C.
AT THE WILDEY TURF STADIUM: Cyrus reeled off successive goals after Shanice Stevenson gave Barbados the lead in the 10th minute from a free kick.
Cyrus extended the lead in the 19th minute with nifty footwork inside the box to convert on a delivery from Shauntae Hinds before she evaded SVG goalkeeper Altica Benn in the 22nd minute to hit a precise ball from outside the right side of the goal area and completed her hat-trick off a free kick service from Stevenson.
Cheyanna Burnett-Griffith scored in the 74th minute with a strike off a bouncing ball after Keinelle Johnson provided the cross from the left flank to find her inside the area.
AT THE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE: Masters opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a rocket from long range, only moments after the Lady Warriors were close to taking the lead on an attempt from Eva Frazzoni that flew wide.
Masters earned her second goal in the first minute of first half stoppage time when she slipped the ball past DR goalkeeper Odaliana Gomez a little outside the edge of the box on a Bermuda fast break.
AT THE DAREN SAMMY CRICKET GROUND: Maristania Mengana scored a dramatic late winner to break St Lucian hearts after the hosts played defiantly throughout the contest.
Mengana decided the match after she made a blazing run down the right wing and composed herself before finishing past St Lucia reserve goalkeeper Kenna Lionel in the third minute of second half stoppage time.
Earlier, Katheryn Rodriguez gave the visitors the lead in the fourth minute when she latched onto a direct ball over the top and chipped it over Saint Lucia starting ’keeper Renala Francis.
The St Lucians showed heart and responded in the 15th minute when striker Shamalyn Albert ended some nifty dribbling and moves with a cross in front of goal and Freegeanne Joseph guided the ball into the net at the far post in the 15th minute.
Cuba continued to assert themselves, especially in the second half, when they they started to come at the Saint Lucia defence in waves, but Albert came close to giving the home team the lead, only to see her shot in the 85th minute fly wide before Mengana intervened.
