Dominica draw 1 -1 Against Barbados in World Cup Qualifier
By Michael D. • Feb 7th, 2008 • Category: SportROSEAU, Dominica (AP) - Dominica and Barbados walked out of Windsor Park Wednesday night realizing they both could have won instead of settling for in a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in their first-round CONCACAF series.
Now, they will have to wait until March 26 in Barbados before they can settle their two-leg series. Jeffrey Williams scored in the 42nd minute to give Barbados the draw in a rain-drenched encounter.
“We’re disappointed,” Dominica forward Richard Pacquette said. “It’s better than losing.”
Barbados had entered the match as overwhelming favorites having won all five previous encounters against Dominica and outscoring it 12-2.
“They have improved a lot,” Barbados coach Eyre Sealy said. “I wasn’t expecting an easy game.
“I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get a win.”
The United States will play the winner of this series in June. The Americans will host the first game at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, on June 15. The second leg will be played in the Caribbean the following week.
Pacquette gave the hosts a 1-0 advantage in the 20th minute with a 16-meter shot past goalkeeper Alvin Rose after Shayne Dailey stripped a Barbados player of the ball at midfield.
“A clinical finish,” Dailey said.
But the visitors equalized, scoring after clearing a Dominica corner kick. Midfielder Rondel Vaugn brought the ball down the left wing before sending a cross to Williams, who slipped it past goalkeeper Glenson Prince from two meters.
Barbados appeared to have taken the lead in the 56th minute off a pretty volley by Jonathan Nurse, but it was voided because it was ruled offside.
“I know it was a goal,” Sealy said. “The linesman got it wrong at the time. I’m not knocking him. I would love to see it on a replay.”
The field around the center circle was in poor condition as the huge bare spot was dominated by dirt and sand.
“It started to take its toll during the game,” Pacquette said. “The legs started to get heavy because it was in the middle of the park.”
Barbados captain and midfielder Norman Ford agreed.
“The pitch played a major role in the game,” he said. “They’ll come to Barbados and play on a proper pitch.”
But Barbados’ national soccer stadium is being repaired, so the game probably will be held at another cricket ground.
Dominica coach Ericson Christopher was looking forward to the return match.
“We tend to play better overseas,” he said. “We are more relaxed than playing in front of our crowd.”
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Lineups:
DOMINICA: Glenson Prince, Colin Bernard (Macaza White, 84), Wayne Phillip, Paul Victor (Prince Austrie, 61), Delbert Daley, Shayne Dailey, Ryan Edgar, Joel Ettienne Clark, Daniel Francis (Lenanard Remy, 73), Sham Addi John, Richard Pacquette.
BARBADOS: Alvin Rose, Brian Neblett, Dyson James, Romelle Braithwaite, Johnathan Straker, Rondell Vaugn (Rivierre Williams, 70), Norman Ford, Jeffrey Williams, Elvis DeFraitas, Johnathan Nurse, Neil Harvey.
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Michael D. is fed up with the lack of properly updated news websites from Dominica. So he decided to create a website to fill that gap.
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