Cayman Islands (red) celebrate their lone and important goal against the Virgin Islands in their CONCACAF Nations League game at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis on Saturday, October 12, 2024. Photo: CONCACAF

Virgin Islands' goalkeeper Simon Cross latches on to the ball that was headed in from close range. Photo: CONCACAF/YouTube

Coach Chris M. Kiwomya made just one change to the lineup that started the previous game against St Kitts and Nevis, as he looked to end a five-match losing streak, bringing in Jaadon Quashie in place of Johari Lacy, but still missing key foreign based players such as Jerry Wiltshire, Joshua Bertie, T’Sharne Gallimore, as well as goalkeepers Frankie Beckles and Mekhi Walters.

However, the VI were under pressure from the get-go with Ikyjah Williams heading off the line inside two minutes from a Cayman Islands’ corner and from there the game became a bruising encounter with strong tackles all over the pitch.

Quashie was booked inside ten minutes for a late tackle, but the VI defense stayed strong and fully utilised the skills of Tyler Forbes as the outlet. Omari Simmons took a yellow card in the 15^th minute as the VI continued to more than match their opponents with physicality and intensity as they tried to get control and play out over the Cayman’s lines.

The game was still even at the thirty-minute mark, with Simon Cross standing firm on everything he faced, including being flattened to the ground on one attack and showing a safe pair of hands.

0-0 @ the half

A rare attack at the other end saw Quashie clash with Lachlin Lambert in the opponent’s goal, both going for a teasing ball into the box from Miguel Marshall. Lambert also had to be alert moments later to thwart Forbes as he raced towards goal.

The half-time score remained 0-0.

The VI made three changes at the break with Azarni Callwood, Tai Thomas and T’Khoy Morton coming on for Williams, Simmons and Quashie and it was the VI who applied some early pressure, with Forbes hitting a shot wide of the goal after a series of corners and long throws.

Cross still had to be alert to Cayman’s attacking intentions and showed good hands to stop a shot from Campbell, but the VI were getting control of the game with Thomas bolstering the midfield.

In the 60^th minute, Campbell Green saw his header flash over the bar after a rare Cross mistake, Callwood and Forbes almost linked up on the edge of the Cayman box, but the danger was cleared, Marshall had to be alert to stop Trey Banks, a long ball from Cross was controlled by Chalwell, who drew a foul and the resulting free-kick created some panic in the Cayman’s box. Joel Mars came on as did Momchil Yordanov with 25 minutes to go.

Then disaster struck when substitute Dimetri Douglas, only on the pitch for a few minutes, nodded home from a corner to put Cayman up 1-0.

There was no way back for the VI who fell to a sixth straight loss and finished bottom of the group.

The Squad

VI squad: Kavon T. Ceasar (capt), Simon Cross, Akeem Paddy, Kristian Javier, Miguel Marshall, Jadon Abrams, Luka E. Chalwell, Justin Smith, Ikyjah Williams, Jaadon Quashie, Omari Simmons, Tyler Forbes, T’Khoy Morton, Joel Mars, Johari Lacey, Azarni Callwood, Levon Williams, Tai Thomas, Momchil Yordanov, Rush Broderick.