Team Cayman settled for a draw against Anguilla in the CONCACAF Road to W Gold Cup in a match filled with cheers that echoed throughout Truman Bodden Sports Complex amid relentless rainfall on Monday, 25 Sept.
Coming off of a 1-3 loss to Anguilla just four days prior in an away match, it was evident that Cayman wanted redemption during their second fixture in Group D of League C which finished 2-2, after both teams displayed determination and intensity on the field.
“Tonight I think the crowd could clearly see we were the better footballing team,” newly appointed women’s head coach Michael Johnson told the Compass. “It’s a harsh sport. If you don’t put away your chances, sometimes this is how the game goes and tonight we failed to finished the job,” he said, noting that his team will improve on that area moving forward.
Cayman, the highest ranked team in their group, sitting at 166 in the FIFA table, took the lead late in the first half following a goal from Shayana Windsor in the 34th minute. But, several minutes later, Anguilla, ranked 183, equalised to close the first half at 1-1.
Anguilla would go ahead in the 70th minute, in what seemed would be the final goal, but Molly Kehoe, now playing in the UK for Cardiff City, pulled the ‘Na today, bobo’ card in the in 74th minute with a blazing goal from outside the box – sending the Anguillans back home with a point.
Team captain Deondra Kelly said she was proud of how the squad performed but reiterated Johnson’s point about needing to capitalise on opportunities, which would have ultimately won Cayman the game.
“The team is driven and determined to go on the field and leave everything when we step out,” Kelly said. “We have a long way to go, but I’ll continue to be here and support them, through thick and thin.”
Cayman will now look to their October fixture against Curaçao, ranked 178, in the Road to W Gold Cup. For the upcoming match, Johnson stated that improvements will be made to help Cayman notch a victory.
“How can we improve, how can we now better our performance against Curaçao? I don’t have a magical ball, so I won’t make any predictions, but we can only control what we can control,” he said. “It’s for us to be in better shape, physically [and] tactically going into those games. I can guarantee you, the girls are going to work hard – they won’t have a choice.”
Cayman will welcome Curaçao to the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on 26 Oct., before travelling away to face them again on 4 Dec.
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