V.I. Finds Winning Touch in CONCACAF Qualifier’s Final Game

The U.S. Virgin Islands failed to qualify for the CONCACAF U-20 Championships, but gained four points in four games during qualifying for the regional championship.

The CONCACAF U-20 Championships occur every two years and serves as the regions qualifying tournament for the U-20 World Cup. (U-20 indicates the players are “under 20” years old.)

The USVI was drawn into a qualifying group with Nicaragua, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat and Guyana.

The USVI got off to a rough start in the tournament, falling 8-0 to eventual group winners and hosts Nicaragua.

In the next two games they drew Montserrat, 1-1, then fell to Guyana. 2-0.

They ended the tournament on a positive note, coming from behind twice to beat St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 3-2, in an unlikely fashion.

St. Vincent scored in the game’s first eight minutes. Shomari Francis leveled the score in the 40th minute for the V.I. St. Vincent went up 2-1 in the 54th minute, but Jimsion St. Louis tied the game at two a piece. The winning goal was an own goal by St. Vincent in the 84th minute.