Joshua Bertie fires to goal to give the Virgin Islands a 1-0 lead against Turks and Caicos Islands on October 16, 2023. Photo: CONCACAF/Youtube

Joshua Bertie (in photo) opened the scoring in the 3rd minute and Justin Smith scored netted in the 90+5' to give the Virgin Islands a 2-2 draw with hosts Turks & Caicos Islands on October 15, 2023. Photo: CONCACAF

The Virgin Islands will play their final group game against Dominica on November 16, 2023, at A.O. Shirley Grounds. Photo: BVIFA/Facebook

Joshua Bertie nets early goal

As the Virgin Islands celebrated Heroes and Foreparents Day, the heroes on that day were Joshua Bertie who opened the scoring for the visitors in just the 3^rd minute and Justin Smith who found the back of the nets in the 90+5^’ minutes to equalise.

The Virgin Islands had a dream start to the game when not even three minutes into the match, Miguel Marshall knifed through the Turks and Caicos Islands defense and played a ball to Joshua Bertie, who one-timed a left-footed shot into goal for a 1-0 lead.

TCI takes the lead!

Turks and Caicos Islands went to work on finding an equaliser and an inch-perfect pass from Billy Forbes up to Junior Paul in the VI area led to VI GK Daniel Gilford fouling Paul, resulting in a penalty. Forbes stepped and confidently drilled home the spot kick to even the score at 1-1 in the 28.

Turks and Caicos GK Sebastian Turbyfield kept things level with two big saves on one-on-one chances for VI.

The hosts then grabbed a 2-1 lead when Forbes curled in a free kick into the top right corner in the 75^th minute.

Justin Smith levels the game @ the death

Turks and Caicos Islands were closing in on the full three points, but VI had one last chance up their sleeve. Tyler Forbes supplied a ball to Johari Lacey on the right wing and Lacey crossed the ball across goal. Justin Smith then tapped the ball into the back of the nets in the 90+5’, to make it 2-2 and spark wild celebrations in the VI camp.

The VI now sit atop the group with five points through three matches, while Turks and Caicos Islands have one point after three games. The VI must now beat Dominica (4 points) to remain top of the group.

That game is slated for November 16, 2023, at A.O. Shirley Grounds.