Bajans booted out of CFU Cup

The big boots of Barbados’ senior men’s football team won’t be marching on to next month’s Caribbean Football Union’s Cup finals in Jamaica.

Barbados were booted out in the second stage of competition when they were beaten 2-0 by French Guiana in their final Group 8 match at the Sylvio Cator Stadium in Haiti on Sunday night.

Barbados were undone by goals on either side of half-time from Gilles Fabien and Gabriel Pigree.

Fabien struck on the stroke of half-time to put the French side up 1-0 at the break before Pigree added a second ten minutes afterward.

It was the second straight defeat for Barbados after they were thrashed 4-2 by host country Haiti on Friday night.

In the night’s second game, Haiti emerged group winners with five points after battling to a goalless draw with St Kitts/Nevis.

The results meant that Haiti and French Guiana, who pipped St Kitts/Nevis on a superior goal difference after both teams ended on four points, secured the two qualifying berths for the November 10-16 finals in Montego Bay.

They will join hosts Jamaica, defending champions Cuba, Group 7 qualifiers Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda as well as Martinique and Curacao, who advanced from Group 9.

Needing a victory to guarantee a place in the finals, Barbados handed rookie goalkeeper Dario Weir his maiden international cap between the uprights, leaving out the experienced Jason Boxhill and Kerry Holder.

With captain Rommell Burgess still nursing a groin strain, defenders Ronaldo Bayley and Andre Bourne were given starting roles for the first time.

Bayley was used in the centre of the defence, alongside stand-in skipper, Barry Skeete while Ramon Manning also returned to the line-up after missing the Haiti game.

England-based utility player Luis Moss reverted to the midfield and was joined by Raheim Sargeant and the returning Romario Harewood.

Armando “Suga” Lashley replaced Arantees Lawrence, who was on a one-game suspension for two bookable offences, in the forward line, which also featured Carl Joseph and Mario Harte.

But the changes failed to inspire the Bajan Tridents, who conceded eight goals in their three matches and finished last in the four-team group on just three points, gained from a 3-2 victory over St Kitts/Nevis last Wednesday. (EZS).