By Anmar Goodridge-Boyce
Barbados suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at home on Friday night to lower ranked opponents Montserrat in their opening encounter of the 2023 / 24 Concacaf Nations League (CNL).
The hosts found themselves behind with just six minutes on the clock at the Wildey Turf following a header from Montserrat captain Lyle Taylor.
The Tridents made an immediate response when overseas-based sensation Thierry Gale slid in Elijah Downey for the equalizer a minute later, before Gale gave Barbados the lead with a composed finish from inside the box midway through the first half.
However, an own goal from central defender Shane Codrington in the 81st minute and a world-class freekick from Taylor in stoppage time means Barbados remains in search of a first home victory since 2019.
More than 1,500 spectators filed through the gates of the Turf for the highly anticipated homecoming of Gale who became the most expensive homegrown Barbadian footballer last week after he completed a record transfer deal from FC Dila Gori in Georgia to Austria giants SK Rapid Wien for a fee of BDS $1.7 million.
The local fans, many of them donning their Barbados colours were thrown into a state of sadness early on as Taylor capitalized on early possession from his team and a lapse of concentration at the back from Barbados and nodded in past Barbadian custodian Liam Brathwaite.
Nevertheless, Barbados looked unfazed after conceding early, and Gale, arguably the island’s best footballer, passed his marker on the left flank before displaying a burst of speed to slide Downey in for a brilliant finish from inside the area.
Downey latched onto Gale’s brilliant pass and nutmegged Montserrat goal keeper Kymani Nelson to register his first senior goal for the Barbados Tridents to send the home fans into a frenzy.
The jubilation increased for Orlando Da Costa’s men who took advantage of a shift in momentum. Curtis Jemmet-Hutson and Downey continued to cause threats to Montserrat occasionally but the combination of Oldham Athletic striker Hallam Hope and Gale proved to be magical.
It paid dividends as well, as the dynamic duo played a clever one-two on the edge of the box to set up Gale with a beautiful one-time finish as the Turf erupted.
Barbados kept the lead at the half-time break and during the second half, Da Costa introduced midfielder Renaldo Trim, Akeem Chandler, Nadre Butcher, Shaquan Collymore and Niall Reid-Stephen.
Several calls from Antiguan referee Ken Pennyfeather were questionable and the fans grew frustrated as the match progressed and the tide swung in favour of the visitors.
Da Costa went defensive with the likes of Collymore and Chandler in place of Downey and captain Jomo Harris who made his 42nd appearance for the Tridents. The plan back-fired as Montserrat equalised.
The leveler was always coming as Barbados never got a full grip on a very open and entertaining second half.
Barbados soaked up pressure for long periods and there was no surprise when Monsterrat were back in the contest following an own goal from Codrington with nine minutes of regular time to play.
The fourth official, Sergio Rozenhout, showed nine minutes on the board, setting up a dramatic finale. There was one final twist, which left Barbados dejected and distraught, as Monsterrat were awarded a free kick in the dying minutes of the match and Taylor stepped up and delivered a beauty of a strike to snatch three points.
Gale produced box-office stuff and lived up to the high expectations of the home crowd eager to see the first million-dollar footballer from our shores. He paid them the entrance fee and more, giving fans their money’s worth of pace, skill and tricks.
The 21-year-old showed why SK Rapid Wien slashed the cash as he was involved in both goals as creator and scorer. Gale mesmerized the Montserrat defenders, and skipped around his marker to assist Downey.
Then he produced the moment every Barbadian fan wanted to see, a fantastic link-goal with Hope.
Barbados will travel today for an away match against League B, Group B favourites Nicaragua.
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