The Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre was buzzing with exciting football action on Tuesday, 15th October 2019. That was when the Anguilla male national team battled Puerto Rico in a very extraordinary and thrilling encounter in the CONCACAF Nations League.
In the first half, Puerto Rico attacked fiercely but some excellent defending from Luke Paris, Tafari Smith, and Kion Lee, as well as brilliant keeping from Kareem Burris, kept Puerto Rico at bay but soon after Captain Germain Hughes had to leave the field in the first half due to injury, Puerto Rico scored two goals in quick succession in the 40th and 43rd minute.
Immediately after returning from the half time break, Puerto Rico added another early goal to make it three goals to nil but Anguilla seemed to find the energy in the dying moments and, in the 27th minute of the second half, when midfielder Kyle Bryan latched on to a loose ball in the box to score a spectacular bicycle kick that sent the packed stadium into pandemonium. This was his first international goal for the national team for this 17-year-old.
Anguilla continued to press forward, and in the 89th minute, when striker Calvin Morgan capitalized on a Puerto Rican defensive blunder to hit pass the custodian in the Puerto Rico’s goal, the score was two goals to three. In a following press conference, Calvin Morgan commented “It is an amazing feeling. It something I didn’t figure will happen until I saw the ball go into the net. I got a bit of a cramp so I couldn’t celebrate what was a good feeling that I had scored my first goal for the team. I was proud to represent Anguilla and scoring the goal. I would like to say one thing also. I dedicate the goal to my grandad, Gideon Webster, because he is really a proud Anguillian.”
Anguilla fought valiantly to get the equalizer but, unfortunately, they fell short at the end.
The final score read Puerto Rico three goals to Anguilla two. It was without a doubt an improved and inspired performance from the Anguillian team.
In the next match, which is also the final match, Anguilla will play against Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico on Monday, 18th November, 2019.
