The Cayman Island under-20 boys football team will not advance to the CONCACAF U20 Championship after concluding their qualifying matches with two losses and a draw.
The local boys played their final game against St. Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday, 27 Feb., losing 3-0 courtesy of a hat trick from De Quan Hamilton (at 16’, 45’+1 and 81’).
That match was particularly fraught for the young footballers as they had to play after hearing the news of the stadium shooting two days earlier.
Hours before that shocking event, on Sunday, 25 Feb., the Cayman U20 boys drew 1-1 with regional heavyweights Puerto Rico.
Justin Byles, who plays with Academy SC – one of the two teams playing when the shooting occurred – opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a well-struck drive from distance.
And a well-organised Cayman side gamely withstood second-half pressure from the Puerto Ricans, until a wonder-strike from Benjamin Donato levelled the contest with just over 10 minutes left on the clock.
Donato’s spectacular overhead kick was a sucker punch for Cayman that leaves them unable to qualify for the next phase of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championships.
‘Very proud’ of team
Byles said his goal was a good moment, but bittersweet in context.
“I’m happy I could score a goal for the team today. Unfortunately, we ended up drawing 1-1 so we can no longer qualify,” he said. “However, I’m very proud of how the whole squad and staff performed.”
A 4-1 opening-match defeat against Haiti on Friday, 23 Feb. left Cayman with their backs against the wall and nothing less than a win was needed Sunday.
Watching from the stands, CIFA president Alfredo Whittaker, saw plenty of room for optimism in the performances of the young squad.
“This is a group that we can build a senior national team around for the future,” he told the Compass after the draw with Puerto Rico.
“They eat, breathe, and sleep football and they execute on the pitch. They have a very professional approach in everything they do, and it shows in their performance.”
What pleased him most about the 1-1 scoreline was the disappointment of the players at the final whistle.
“They weren’t happy with getting a point against a so-called top team. They knew they could win.”
Whittaker said coach Ian Lindo and his team had done a magnificent job with the squad in a short space of time.
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