By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Sunday 28th March 2021) — The Sugar Boyz continued their winning ways on Saturday 27th March 2021, making light work of the Bahamas in their second World Cup qualifier for Qatar 2022, winning 4-nil at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau.
St. Kitts and Nevis made one change to its starting line-up from the previous Dominican Republic match. Striker Keithroy Freeman (#16), who played as a substitute on Wednesday, joined the starters and delivered. Goals were scored by Freeman in the 25th and 65th minutes, Kimaree Rogers (#11) in the 53rd minute, and substitute Omari Sterling-James (#10) with a stunning 25-yard rocket in the 82nd minute. The excellent Sugar Boyz attack was equally matched by a robust defence and the outstanding goalkeeping of Julani Archibald (#18), who has had no goals scored against him in the World Cup qualifiers so far.
Head Coach Leo Neiva was delighted: “The more important thing for us is the six points with five goals scored and zero against. I enjoyed a lot the draw between Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico 1–1 because we have a plus-five goal difference and Trinidad plus-three. We have a real good chance to qualify… but we need to improve our preparation and always keep our feet on the ground.” Neiva noted that while Puerto Rico played three warm-up friendly matches before the qualifiers and the Bahamas played two, St. Kitts and Nevis was unable to do so due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The victory placed St. Kitts and Nevis at the top of Group F with six points and a +5 goal difference, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago on four points. The Sugar Boyz next face Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana in the June 2021 FIFA international window. A win in either match would all but assure qualification from the group to the next qualifying round.