Niall Reid-Stephen netted a sensational double as Barbados registered consecutive wins in the Concacaf Nations League for the first time since 2019, with an impressive 3-0 victory over hosts United States Virgin Islands (USVI) on Tuesday evening at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in St Croix.
Right-back Carl Hinkson scored his maiden international goal for Barbados in the 15th minute as the visitors led at halftime.
USVI remained in the contest for long periods on a wet, slippery and waterlogged pitch but Reid-Stephen put the match to bed with two brilliant strikes late on to move his goal tally to four goals in as many games.
Bajan Tridents head coach Kent Hall, in just his fourth match in charge, made five changes to the team that defeated the Bahamas last Friday, with Reid-Stephen and defender Shay Prescod arguably the two most impactful.
Regardless of Reid-Stephen’s magic, it was Hinkson who gave Barbados the lead with his first goal for the country, taking advantage of a loose ball on the edge of the area, and producing a right-footed drive which brushed the inside of the post and into the back of the net.
The hosts struggled to penetrate the Barbados defence, well marshalled by goalkeeper Kishmar Primus, who marked his 25th appearance for the senior men’s national team with a clean sheet in his first match in more than a year.
USVI soaked up long periods of immense pressure from the Bajans who were in search of a second after the break, but Hall made several substitutes which proved to be beneficial in the end.
In torrential rains and almost darkness, as the lights at the venue went out due to a power outage, Barbados deservingly extended their lead four minutes from time, when Reid-Stephen held off two defenders and sent a rocket shot past Dylan Ramos.
Having celebrated his 23rd birthday on Sunday, Reid-Stephen presented himself with the perfect gift as he linked up with substitute Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse to grab his second on the evening and secure back-to-back wins for Barbados.
Following today’s result, Barbados now sit top of Group A in League C with a perfect record of six points from two matches heading into next month’s reverse fixtures at the BFA Wildey Turf.
The winning formula continues for Barbados after the team snatched a late 3-2 win over the Bahamas on Saturday. The Tridents are now in pole position to return to League B at the first time of asking, after demotion to League C last year.
The Bahamas are second with a superior goal difference to USVI.
Speaking during a post match interview, Hall said he was pleased with the team’s ability to keep the winning habit.
“I am happy with the performance in different aspects. I thought we played really well with the ball in the early stages especially before the rain started. We are still growing in confidence but that will come. It is still going to see us creating quality chances,” he said.
“You want to make winning a habit, it is a good feeling. Everybody is on a high now, we have to remember that it takes hard work but we want to enjoy it right now,” he added.
Hall is now urging the local fans to come out and support the team in next month’s home matches.
“We want to win all four matches, and two matches at home in front of the Bajan fans who were starved of that feeling for a while. They deserve to be a part of this because it’s for them,” he concluded. (BT)
