- Dicember, 14 2008 -
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Sunday, December 14; National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica: Guadeloupe graduates to the Gold Cup with renewed belief following their penalty shootout victory against pretournament favorites Cuba in the third place playoff of the Digicel Caribbean Championships.
Third place playoff matches are often anti-climatic with both vanquished teams finding it difficult to motivate themselves for the match when they know they came close to winning it all. Unfortunately the fixture between Guadeloupe and Cuba, pitting two of the most attack minded teams in the tournament, failed to live up to expectations or even the standards that were set when Cuba came out the victors 2-1, in their Group B clash.
The match started brightly enough with Cuba finding the back of the net as early as minute eight, when Roberto Linares thought he had repeated his goal scoring feat against Guadeloupe from their first encounter, only to have this one ruled offside.
The Gwada Boys would have their first strike at goal in minute 14 through Gregory Gendry. While Cuba’s first legal shot on target came in minute 28 through Urgelles. On what would be the hottest day of the DCC Finals so far, both teams looked lethargic and unwilling to take a risk to go for the outright win, the majority of both teams possession was concentrated in midfield which meant halftime was met with the same score-line we kicked-off with.
The second half did not stray too far from the first, with clear cut chances few and far between; the introduction of regular starter Mickael Antoine-Curier sparked some life into Guadeloupian’s and caused some concern at the back for Yenier Marquez and company. Just 10 minutes after making his entrance Curier looked like he had plundered a precious poach, but only to those in the grandstand, who were unable to see the ball ripple the outside side-netting after the burly forwards first time strike from the right.
The teams hardly looked like they wished to be separated on the pitch, and with the late swapping of the Cuban goalkeepers Chevans for Hoez, it appeared as if Guadeloupe and Cuba would both be facing the Guillotine of the penalty shootouts.
Cuba, who would already have a bitter memory of their last shootout in the Semi-Finals against Grenada, would be put under the spotlight from the spot once more and once more they seemed to have it under control as they slotted home their first four-only to be matched by Guadeloupe. Ironically, and tragically Jaine Colome who had given the Lions so much during the tournament, will now be remembered for his second penalty kick miss in as many attempts, but while his first miss in the Semi-Finals was not tournament ending, this time it was, as captain Jean Luc Lambourde laced one low to take the score to 5-4 and grant Guadeloupe the title of third runners-up in what has been a rollercoaster ride in the Digicel Caribbean Championships.
Guadeloupe (Team list): 1. Franck Grandel, 3. Willy Laurence, 4. Fabien Jerome (6. Alain Vertot min-76), 5. Xavier Bematol (17. Lery Hanany min-47), 7. Livio Nabab, 12. Cedric Avinel, 13. Jean Luc Lambourde, 14. Gregory Gendrey, 15. Cedric Vanoukia, 18. Ludovic Quistin, 19. Wilfred Loiseau (11.Mickael Antoine-Curier min-55)
Subs: 2. Lina Meddy, 16. Fabrice Mercury,
Cuba (Team List): 2. Silvio Minoso, 3. Yenier Marquez, 5. Jorge Clavelo, 6. Joel Colome, 8. Alianni Urgelles (7. Lazaro Alfonso min-66), 9. Alain Cervantes, 10. Roberto Linares, 12. Odelin Molina Hoez (1. Danny Quinteros Chevans min-88), 14. Jaine Colome, 15. Leonel Duarte (13. Ariel Martinez min-45), 16. Reysandry Fernandez
Subs: 4. Hanier Dranquet, , 11. Jensse Munos, 17. Luis Vallegas, 18. Mario Ruiz Leonard
Referee: Trevor Taylor (BRB)
For match pictures and further information visit www.digicelfootball.com
ENDS
ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers. After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and has operations in 23 markets, including Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, Curacao, The Cayman Islands, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. With new launches planned for the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Honduras and Panama, Digicel expects to be in 26 markets in the next 12 months. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths.
Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams and is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup and the Copa De Naciones, the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on Digicel
