The hearts of Turks and Caicos Islands football fans were broken on Monday, October 16, when an extra-time goal from the British Virgin Islands number 14 player Justin Smith, ensured that his team secure 2-2 draw in their Concacaf Nations League at the TCIFA Field.
The draw effectively pulled the curtains on the TCI campaign to advance from the zone. They remain at the bottom of the three-team zone.
Veteran and captain Billy Forbes scored a brace in the game, while the BVI goals were scored by Joshua Bertie and substitute Justin Smith.
A disappointed Coach Ricky Hill blamed inexperience and Naivety on the part of his charges that resulted in the equalizing goal.
He said this performance was much better that the Dominica game which the TCI lost 0-3. In that game, according to coach Hill, his team started well but petered out as the game wore on, but in this game, they started out slow but picked up steam as the encounter wore on.
The TCI went behind in the third minute after the BVI number 10 player, Joshua Bertie got past the TCI defenders and slotted past custodian Sebastian Turbyfield.
Undaunted by the setback, the TCI players, pressed for the equalizers, and created a few chances to do so, while Turbyfield ensured that they did not slip further, with some spectacular saved, and ensuring that the scores were level going into the halftime break.
They press from the TCI resulted in a BVI player bringing down TCI forward Junior Paul in the box, resulting in a penalty in the 27th minute, which Forbes converted for the first of his two goals.
TCI started where they left off in the first half, having lengthy ball possession and making daunting forward runs. One of those runs resulted in a TCI forward being brought down on the edge of the box, giving Forbes the opportunity to score a brilliant freekick, which sparked wild celebration around the venue.
Forbes’ celebration, which saw him scaling the perimeter fence and into the bleachers, earned him a yellow card from presiding referee Hakeem Harvey.
The TCI enjoyed good ball possession, which sometimes resulted in some threatening runs. One of those runs resulted in the fleetfooted Junior Paul, while attempting to outpace his opponents, brought down millimeters from the 18 yards line. That tackle rendered him severely injured and making him unable to continue the game.
The resulting freekick by Raymond Burey, however, resulted in quick counter by BVI I n the 90+5 minute, resulted in the equalizing goal.
Coach Hill, while clearly expressing his disappointment, heaped praise on Forbes for his two goals, and for his leadership on the field. However, he said team was let down by the inexperienced of some of the other players.
Chris Kiwomya, the BVI coach, expressed his disappointment at not winning the game. He told the news conference that his team got the better chances to score but somehow did not make good use of them.
Kiwomy said he was also disappointed with the officiating by the referee, stating that the official could have allowed the game to flow freer, rather than stopping it for almost every infringement.
TCI will complete their fixture against Dominica away. Even if they won that game, they will not go through, as they will ended on four points. Domica will also play the BVI away. Nothing but a win for either team will suffice.
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