BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC—Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands gained nerve-jangling penalty kick shootouts on Tuesday to create historical past by qualifying for the second spherical of Concacaf qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Anguilla, ranked 209th within the newest Fifa males’s rankings, clipped the wings of hosts Turks & Caicos Islands 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw on the TCIFA Nationwide Stadium in Providenciales, and BVI, ranked 207th, knocked out the visiting United States Virgin Islands 4-2 on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw on the A.O. Shirley Recreation Floor in Highway City, Tortola.
It’s the first time that Anguilla and BVI have made it out of the primary spherical of Concacaf qualification for a World Cup. Nonetheless, the highway forward appears fairly difficult for the 2 sides within the second spherical, the place they may face formidable opposition.
BVI advances to Group E of the second spherical of qualifying, the place they may face Caribbean Soccer Union No. 1 Jamaica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Dominica. In the meantime, the Anguillans transfer into Group F, the place their opponents might be El Salvador, Suriname, Puerto Rico, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The BVI and the USVI performed a 1-1 draw within the first leg on the Bethlehem Soccer Advanced within the St Thomas capital of Charlotte Amalie.
Each groups generated scoring probabilities within the first half, together with Troy Caesar for USVI, whose shot halfway by means of the half flashed barely extensive, whereas a BVI header proper earlier than half-time bounced extensive of the publish.
The exchanges continued within the second half, with either side figuring out {that a} single objective may simply make the distinction. Nonetheless, the defenses remained steadfast, and there have been nonetheless no targets after regulation, leading to additional time.
Within the further body, BVI had a number of probabilities to attain, however their ending allow them to down, so issues needed to be settled from the penalty spot. BVI goalkeeper Frankie Beckles made two saves earlier than Azarni Callwood transformed the profitable kick.
After a 0-0 draw within the first leg on the Raymond Guishard Stadium within the Anguilla capital of The Valley, the hosts proved superior from the spot.
TCI took the lead within the first half of regulation time when their all-time scoring chief and most-capped participant, Billy Forbes, scored his second profession World Cup qualifying objective within the twenty third minute.
However the Anguillans responded a bit earlier than half-time when Luke Paris transformed from the penalty spot for the primary objective in qualifying for the house staff since 2000 in opposition to The Bahamas and in an indication of issues to come back.
No different targets might be present in common or additional time, so the groups went to the penalty spot to find out the winner, the place Anguilla sealed the deal.
Associated
