IN A HOT-TEMPERED goalless final Group “B” Digicel Caribbean Cup qualifying football match between Barbados and hosts St Vincent and the Grenadines three Barbadian and two SVG players received red cards at Victoria Park last night.
Referee Javier Jauregui of the Netherlands Antilles ejected Vincentians Emerald George and Keith Francis.
Barbados’ captain Norman Forde was also redcarded for retaliation from a challenge by Francis and John Parris was subsequently expelled foranother challenge on opposing goalkeeper Dwayne Sandy. At the end of the match, a protesting goalkeeper Alvin Rouse of Barbados, was also shown the red card.
The goalless result means that St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis and Barbados all ended with five points. According to the new FIFA 2007 playing rules, St Kitts-Nevis will top the group, on a superior goal difference between the tied teams, having drawn 1-1 with both Barbados and St Vincent.
The Vincentians will get the second qualifying spot, having scored eight goals and conceded one whereas Barbados will miss out after scoring six and conceding one to be third.
St Kitts had defeated winless Montserrat 4-0 in the evening’s first game but the lop-sided victory by St Vincent (7-0) and Barbados (5-0) against Montserrat did not come into the equation.
Barbados were without Riviere Williams, through a soft tissue injury to the right ankle while St Vincent made six changes to the team which started in the last game versus St Kitts-Nevis.
Captain Shandel Samuel and Barbadian-based sweeper Oscar Nero were among those not starting with the tough-tackling Roy Richards comingin.
Barbados, who also had to replace striker Mario Harte with Bryan Neblett after 35 minutes, came close to scoring when Forde, used in a forward position, shot just wide of the right post.
Referee Jauregui was kept busy from the first half, booking Omar Archer, Neblett and Rouse of Barbados and George and Chester Morgan of St Vincent.
Just before half time, Rouse had to push away a stinging shot from Romano Snagg, at his near post, for a corner.
The hosts made a double substitution at the start of the second half, introducing Seinard Bowens and Damol Francis for Darren Hamlet and Chad Balcombe. Bowens had a golden opportunity but lashed his shot into the stands. A free-kick on the edge of the penalty area by Cornelius Stewart, was also parried away by Rouse.
Rouse also had to retreat to push a long shot by the dreadlocked Francis over the crossbar after a weak pass back by Archer.
However, the Vincentians were reduced to ten men for the last 19 minutes when George was ejected after receiving a second yellow card for an off-the-ball skirmish with Parris, who was also booked.
Earlier, the Kittitians, after drawing with both Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines, failed to get the required number of goals against Montserrat and were eliminated, finishing in third position.
Alexis Saddler got a brace in the 17th and 31st minutes while captain Keith Gumbs scored a free kick after 20 minutes and substitute Ian Lake scored in the 90th minute.SQUADSBarbados: Alvin Rouse (GK), Barry Skeete, Jonathan Straker, Omar Archer, Rudy Grosvenor, John Parris, Jason Carter (Kadeem Atkins),Rommel Burgess, Jeffrey Williams, Norman Forde, Mario Harte (Bryan Neblett, 35th).
St Vincent and the Grenadines: Dwayne Sandy (GK), Chad Balcombe (Damol Francis, 46th), Emerald George, Joel George, Darren Hamlet (SeinardBowens), Keith James, Chester Morgan, Roy Richards, Reginal Richardson, Romano Snagg (Oscar Nero), Cornelius Stewart.
Red CardsSt Vincent: Emerald George (71st), Keith James (90th).Barbados: Norman Forde (89th), John Parris (90th) Alvin Rouse (after game)
