Smith strikes late to rescue draw for BVI at Turks & Caicos

CONCACAF said on Tuesday that Group A and Group C of League C of the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League wrapped up their respective windows, with St. Martin earning a commanding victory and British Virgin Islands (BVI) rescuing a late draw at Turks and Caicos Islands.

Saint Martin vs. Anguilla

CONCACAF said Stanley Segarel scored four goals, while Axel Raga had a hat-trick as St. Martin rolled to an 8-0 victory against Anguilla at the SKNFA Technical Center in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.

St. Martin now leads Group A with nine points through three matches, while Anguilla is still without a point through three games.

“St. Martin broke the deadlock in the 17’ through Segarel, who had an easy tap-in off a cross,” CONCACAF said. “St. Martin kept their foot on the gas, and Segarel scored his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot for a 2-0 lead in the 32’ after an Anguilla handball in the area.

“Segarel’s banner day continued with his third goal of the afternoon in the 39’, as he stroked home a right-footed shot to extend the lead to 3-0,” it added. “Segarel showed no slowing down and he tallied his fourth of the day in the 47’ by finishing past Anguilla GK Danniell Bailey for a 4-0 lead. A minute later in the 48’ the scoreboard read 5-0, as Emmanuel Richardson got in on the act with a goal.”

CONCACAF said Anguilla’s long day grew even more frustrating in the 56’, when DF Luke Paris was sent off, leaving the visitors with 10 men for more than the final half-hour.

A giveaway deep in the Anguilla half led to another goal for St. Martin, this time with Raga doing the finishing in the 65’ for a 6-0 lead, CONCACAF said.

It said Raga was back at it in the 70’, heading in his second goal of the day for a 7-0 St. Martin advantage.

CONCACAF said Raga then completed his hat trick and rounded out the 8-0 scoreline in the 89’ with a header into net off a corner kick.

Turks and Caicos Islands vs. British Virgin Islands

CONCACAF said Justin Smith scored in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time to rescue a 2-2 draw for British Virgin Islands at Turks and Caicos Islands at the TCIFA National Stadium in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

BVI now sit atop the group with five points through three matches, while Turks and Caicos Islands have one point after three games, CONCACAF said.

“BVI were in dreamland not even three minutes into the match, as Miguel Marshall knifed through the Turks and Caicos Islands defense and played a ball to Joshua Bertie, who one-timed a left-footed shot into goal for a 1-0 BVI lead,” CONCACAF said.

It Ais Turks and Caicos Islands went to work on finding an equalizer and an inch-perfect pass from Billy Forbes up to Junior Paul in the BVI area led to BVI GK Daniel Gilford fouling Paul, resulting in a penalty.

“Forbes stepped and confidently drilled home the spot kick to even the score at 1-1 in the 28,” CONCACAF said.

It said Turks and Caicos GK Sebastian Turbyfield kept things level with two big saves on one-on-one chances for BVI.

The hosts then grabbed a 2-1 lead when Forbes curled in a free kick into the top right corner in the 75’, CONCACAF said.

It said Turks and Caicos Islands were closing in on the full three points, “but BVI had one last chance up their sleeve and a deep cross was turned into net by Smith in the 90+5’, making for a 2-2 final and a share of the spoils.”