Vincy Heat on mountain climb

It will be highly improbable, and near impossible, for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to advance to the next phase of the CONCACAF Zone of the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers.

The Vincentians meet Canada this evening at the Saputo Stadium in Montreal in the return leg, with a three goal deficit.{{more}}

The task is multiplied, as a sea of Canadians’ red should greet the Vincentians as the game has been sold out. Planned bus tours by Vincentians living mainly in Toronto and New York may be just a bus ride, and an occasion to renew old acquaintances, as the climb seems to be like a journey up Mt Everest.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines failed to make use of the home court advantage and virtually surrendered to the Canadians last Sunday June 15th.

Like a walk in the park, the Canadians did it their way against a Vincentian outfit that lacked tenacity, vision and who were seemingly playing with lead on their legs.

An Issey Nakijimia Farran goal in the 32nd minute gave the Canadians a one goal lead. In a piece on in decisive play from the left side allowed the Canada a soft goal. Down to ten men, with right wing back Roy Richards off the field, Canada made the Vincentians pay for their procrastination.

This stunned an expectant crowd, who were promised a better showing from the pre match hype.

Reading the script well, the Canadians negated what little the Vincentians had to offer, and blunted the one man striking force employed by Technical Director Stewart John Hall.

The use of the long ball, synonymous with the English brand, was ineffective as the taller and more technically efficient Canadians, just stood firm and thwarted the few forays mounted by their opponents.

Literally dictating the match, this was doubled by substitute Ali Gerba in the 43rd minute, when again the home team had ten players on the field.

The score line could have been wider had it not been for a quick thinking Melvin Andrews in goal, but he too had to be substituted because of injury.

A glimmer of hope started to emerge in the second half, as the Vincentians tried to make amends and come from behind, but were visibly too weak to fight.

Marlon James laid off a ball to midfielder Darren Francis early in the second half, but his right foot shot went just wide of Pat Onstad’s upright in the Canadian goal.

James, the 2008 Golden Boots winner in the Malaysian Super League, hit a volley high from within the six yards box, in one of his team’s rare opportunities.

In the mean time, the Canadians were having a midfield party, slicing through the porous Vincentian defence, forcing substitute goal keeper, Winslow Mc Dowald, to pull off some acrobatic saves.

Gerba sealed the issue in the 88th minute, with another soft goal, after the Vincentians went ragged.

A despondent and disappointed Hall told SEARCHLIGHT soon after Sunday’ defeat, “the third goal just killed off the tie”.

Referring to the Vincentians’ mistakes, Hall said,” once you are up against a team like Canada that moves the ball around, you will pay for your mistake”.

“We lost the game in the first half, when we gave up with ten men on the field”, Hall said in a tone of remorse.

The Technical Director was making reference to the occasions when defender Roy Richards and midfielder, Sean Glynn were off the field injured. It was at these points that Canada scored their two first half goals.

Pointing to this evening’s return leg, Hall remarked, “we just have to lick our wounds and go again”.

Maintaining the same 18 players who failed to impress last Sunday on home soil, the local team left here last Tuesday morning for the North American country. The team reads: Cornelius Huggins, Randolph Williams, Oscar Nero, Roy Richards, Darren Hamlet, Alwyn Guy, Melvin Andrews, Winslow Mac Dowald, Richard Hayde, Shandel Samuel, Kendal Velox, Darren Francis, Emerald George, Troy Jeffers, Marlon James, Wesley Charles, Sean Glynn, and Cornelius Stewart.

The officials are Joseph Delves- Head of Delegation, Stewart John Hall – Technical Director, Roxell John – Manager Roger Gurley – Coach Kevin Richardson – Assistant Coach. Perry De Freitas – Team Doctor.