Barbados delivered a masterclass on home soil last night in their CONCACAF Nations League C, Group A match, thrashing the US Virgin Islands 5-0 in a commanding display at the Wildey Turf, St Michael.
Niall Reid-Stephen was the star of the evening, netting a superb hat-trick, including a sensational 25-yard free-kick, while Hagan Holligan and Omani Leacock added to the tally. Victory ensured the Tridents would be promoted back to the CONCACAF Nations League B as they maintained their perfect record, collecting nine points from three games with 11 goals scored and just two conceded.
The match began with Barbados dominating possession, patiently probing the visitors’ defence. Despite their control, it wasn’t until the 42nd minute that the deadlock was broken. Midfielder Hadan Holligan pounced on a through ball from centre half Carl Hinkson, surging past his opposite number Jamie Browne into the penalty area, before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
On the stroke of half time, Reid-Stephen sent goalkeeper Whelan Joseph the wrong way with an emphatic penalty into the right corner to register his third goal of the group. Carmelo Rodriguez was booked for his challenge which brought winger Nadre Butcher down in the area.
It was in the second half that Reid-Stephen reaped the rewards from efforts sowed earlier. He tripled Barbados’ advantage in the 47th minute with a first time left footed shot outside the area. Butcher turned provider again when he cushioned a long ball into the path of Reid-Stephen but nobody in attendance was expecting the midfielder to rifle it home, albeit with some generous glovework from Joseph. There was nothing the 21-year-old, who is attending Eastern Illinois University, could do to stop the milestone goal in the 65th minute.
With a free-kick from 25 yards out, the 23-year-old Reid-Stephen unleashed a stunning left-footed strike that flew into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper grasping at thin air and the crowd in rapture. As the match edged into injury time, Omani Leacock added the final flourish to the result, slotting home in the penalty area after the visitors failed to clear the ball in the box.
This comprehensive 5-0 victory was also the first CONCACAF Nations League win at home since 2019, when Barbados beat Cayman Islands 3-0 in the League C, Group A match with Hallam Hope notching a brace and Armando Lashley getting the other. (JC)
