The BVI Boys’ suffered a 3-0 defeat against Anguilla in their final Tier II Group B game of the 2024 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Boys’ Under-14 Challenge Series on Tuesday.

Playing at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago, an evenly matched game was turned on its head just before half time with Anguilla opening the scoring and then doubling their advantage early in the second half from the penalty spot. The third goal coming towards the end of the game with the BVI having made many substitutions in an attempt to get back into the hgame

The result meant that Anguilla progressed to the semifinals of the competition, whilst the BVI finished fourth , well ahead of the USVI, but just behind the third placed Dominica. The Turks and Caicos Islands won the group, going undefeated from four games

In earlier games the BVI put two early defeats, to Dominica, 3-0 and the TCI, 4-0, behind them by routing the USVI, 3-1, as Ty’Rique Charles scored a hat trick.

The BVI looked to play on the counterattack, mainly trying to make use of the pace of Charles. The diminutive Joel Gilford looked to play Charles in early and often. Meanwhile, the USVI continued to probe down the left side of the BVI defense with skipper Taj Alexander looking to combine with Berry.

The USVI dominance failed to bear fruit, and the BVI caught them napping in the 24’. Myles Penn played a telling ball in behind, and Charles outpaced the USVI defense to lob Jahmakye Liverpool. Undaunted by giving up the opening goal, the USVI continued to have the lion’s share of possession, displaying some attractive and enterprising passing and movement off the ball. The BVI produced a stellar defensive display to see out the first half and take the one-goal lead into half-time.

The USVI returned with the same zest. Oriol came close to getting his name on the scoresheet in the 35’, but his shot was saved by Trevon Stevens after a skillful display by Berry.

USVI continued to grow in confidence, playing effortlessly through the BVI lines. Berry went on a mazy run in the 39’, eluding three defenders but blazed his shot high from just inside the penalty area.

Skipper Alexander got in on the action in the 41’ with some purposeful running, and it took a last-ditch tackle to deny him the goal.

The USVI’s dominance was rewarded in the second half with a 45’ equalizer. Oriol muscled his way past both BVI center-backs and buried his left-footed shot to the left of goalkeeper Stevens.

The jubilation lasted only four minutes. Charles benefited from indecisive play in the USVI defense and pounced on a loose ball. He sprinted away from the USVI defense to slot past an advancing Ezequiel Rawlins who had replaced Liverpool in the USVI goal. The goal against the run of play was Charles’ second.

The USVI continued to plug away and almost leveled the game for a second time in the 57’. Paul Giordino failed to capitalize on a chance after Stevens misread the flight of a cross from the right side. Chasing the equalizer, the substitutes entered the match, and soon after, Kymani Bellot latched on to a deflected pass in the 61’ but shot into the side netting.

The USVI paid for not capitalizing on their chances, and Charles completed his hat-trick in the 70’ to put the game to bed. With his back to goal, the forward turned neatly and curled his right-footed effort into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.