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VI beaten 0-5 by Cuba in CONCACAF WC Qualifier

- VI managed to hold off Cuba to just one goal in first half
The Virgin Islands concede one of 5 goals against Cuba in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala on June 2, 2021. Photo: BVIFA
Virgin Islands (VI) Men’s National Team are still winless and scoreless in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier. Photo: BVIFA
Virgin Islands (VI) Men’s National Team are still winless and scoreless in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier. Photo: BVIFA
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala- It took a powerful Cuba team 70 minutes to finally break the hearts of the youthful [British] Virgin Islands (VI) Men’s National Team in a CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala.

Having gone into the halftime break at just a goal down, the VI were still a threat in the second half, but then having spent long periods defending stoically, they were caught out as they changed formation and tactics looking to at least equalise and ultimately were overpowered in a 0-5 reversal.

Solid 65 minutes by VI

“For 65 plus minutes we were reasonably comfortable and defended our goal well,” stated Interim Head Coach, Dan Neville.

However, a football match is 90 minutes and the Virgin Islands were unable to plug the goal flow that ensued.

“At one-nil down you have to make changes and try to get a goal, unfortunately, we got picked off on the counter by some good moments of quality from Cuba and some moments we'll be disappointed by,” Neville said.

‘They’re still learning’- Bickerton

Due to injuries and non-availability, several younger players had the opportunity to make debuts and also gain some valuable playing time, which BVI Football Association (BVIFA) President, Andrew D. Bickerton aka ‘Andy’ saw as a positive despite the result.

“It's a very young team and obviously they're still learning,” he noted.

“At times in the game you could see that they haven't yet learned how to keep possession of the ball when they are transitioning from defence into attack; however, as time goes along they will get more experience and become more comfortable in themselves and then we won't be under so much pressure, we defended well and as Coach says it was only when we actually changed our line up to try and chase the game that we conceded more goals.”

Next up for the team is another World Cup Qualifier against Curacao, which will also be hosted by the Guatemala Football Federation and played on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at the Estadio Del Trebol in Guatemala City with a kick-off time of 5:00pm (VI time).

The VI boys also lost both of their games in the first round and are yet to get on the scoresheet.

13 Responses to “VI beaten 0-5 by Cuba in CONCACAF WC Qualifier”

  • Hmmm (03/06/2021, 10:19) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Our local team is playing good. Only went down 5 nil. I was expecting a bigger score line to Cuba. Well done BVI.
  • born here (03/06/2021, 10:32) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    Mr. Bickerton and that head coach Dan speaking pure rubbish. They both know that the travelling team cannot win games it a weak team, yes i guess the president couldn’t get player from England in his football academy to play this time around, because every time a play comes from his academy he get money, Bickerton and Dan need to go they doing pure rubbish. Since Dan is coaching the national team can’t even win a game under his portfolio this is nonsense. But the national team players getting pay $2000.00 each for travelling and losing games. Its better if Wayne coach the team instead of Dan they might do better even thou it is wrong choices of players. Andy needs to revamp again and stop wasting FIFA money. i love the sport but I no longer support the local games some of the players too disrespectful to the officials as well.
    • Obviously Not "born here" (03/06/2021, 13:31) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
      Same crab in a bucket mentality in the comment section.....you're not contributing to their play yet on the sidelines bashing them.... take aim at the coach but stop degrading "our" players....if you ever took the time to research who our team tends to play against you would have known our team has the youngest players among other countries and that not by choice but lack of options.... be glad you have a team at all to even participate because when it comes to certain sports our own "born-here" tends to not be keen to learning leaving the slots empty for so called "down-islanders"....and just so you know its not only soccer bvi teams tends to be poor at, in-fact every other sport we participate in tends to have the same outcome overseas yet we still support because thats how decent people react...foh....#BVIStrong
      • Mike Skerrit (03/06/2021, 20:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

        @obviously not born here. Bout time you all stop this bull sh** about born here and born where but still here. Ho out and let your youths join a dam team

    • nope (03/06/2021, 14:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Some valid points but Wayne is not good. He can get the team fit but that’s it, he cannot help with techniques.
  • Windy (03/06/2021, 10:54) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    set of can't play youths lol
  • Effort (03/06/2021, 11:27) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    A+ for effort but I mean atleast win one nuh struppes.
  • Lord (03/06/2021, 15:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply

    Yáll here saying win one, and the truth is "Locals" are just not that interested in football. They rather a more "Americanized sport".. I tell you what.. there are a bunch of really talented kids here that have been living here all their lives and can't play because they don't have the passport. Stop this foolishness having people wait 20+ years just to represent the country the call home. Team would be a lot better if the government amended these residency and citizenship legislations.
    • Me (04/06/2021, 16:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Facts poor facts government need to do more on sport on a whole . And it even have children born right here that fighting to get a passport
  • josiah'sbay (03/06/2021, 19:27) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    If people only understood the probability of a territory the size of the VI wining against a country the size of Cuba. Our kids should be praised for being in the tournament period!
    • Exactly (04/06/2021, 12:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      This was a great experience, they are a young team, maybe a bad strategic decision in the second half given how they fended off a much stronger side in the first but overall, really well done!!
  • Trying (05/06/2021, 08:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vi need help try bringing a coach from some where who have experience and let him pick a good team and you see a difference


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