Forced into three changes an inexperienced BVI team full of youngsters battled for 90 minutes, but ultimately fell 6-0 to host Puerto Rico at the Estadio CentroAmericano, Mayaquez in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Gethin Jones, Ikyjah Williams and Luca Reich all made starts in the reshuffled side that was up against their toughest challenge yet of the Chris Kiwomya era and although the scoreline suggests an easy passage for the professionals of Puerto Rico, the team ran and played with pride for the full 90 minutes.
“We struggled to keep possession and were forced into defence, but despite the pressure we never gave up and showed BVI pride.” Commented FA President, Mr. Andy Bickerton “there were particularly good performances from Jerry Wiltshire, Daniel Gilford and Tyler Forbes, who ran endlessly up front with very little support.”
For the El Huracan Azul the win saw them officially clinch promotion to League B and a place in the 2023 Gold Cup Prelims.
Ironically it was straight after the BVI’s first attack that Puerto Rico broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. Playing out of the back, Miguel Marshall put Tyler Forbes through on goal, but his shot was deflected for a corner. The hosts cleared the danger and then broke downfield, a move which ended with Ricardo River’s pin point cross met by Darren Rios, who neatly placed his right footed shot into the corner past Daniel Gilford.
Gilford was also powerless to stop PR’s second goal just two minutes later when Jaden Servania was brought down in the box in the 14th minute, and Rivera converting the penalty to make it 2-0
In the 31st minute the hosts further added to their tally when Gerald Diaz poked the ball into the net after a neat inter change of play down the middle
Gilford made a miraculous save shortly shortly after to deny Rivera with a one handed block from point blank range, but again was left totally exposed in the 39th minute when Wilfredo Rivera’s chip lobbed over his head and onto the cross bar, with Rivera on hand for a tap in.
In the second half Rivera tapped in for his hat trick in the 49th minute to complete his hattrick and soon after that, a crafty no-look pass from Ian Silva found Ricardo Rivera again down the middle in the 51st minute for his fourth and the final goal of the game.