The Dominican Republic hosted Anguilla in the first of two games to be played between the two sides over the next three days. Though both games will be held in San Cristóbal, the first leg technically counts as Anguilla's home leg because Anguilla elected to play its home game in the Dominican Republic. The situation was eerily similar to the 2006 qualifying series between the teams when both legs were played in Santo Domingo. The Dominican Republic won the series 6-0 on aggregate scoring.
In the 2010 edition of the FIFA World Cup, Anguilla lost its aggregate goals series to El Salvador 16-0, so expectations were low for the British territory coming into to today's match. However, Anguilla acquitted themselves well. The Dominican Republic took a 2-0 lead into the half, including a goal scored by star striker Jonathan Faña (pictured, #9), but the damage was limited to the same scoreline as neither team could breach the goal in the second period.
The two sides will face off in the return leg in two days time, with the series winner progressing out of the CONCACAF First Round and advancing to learn their fate at the preliminary draw on July 30. The Dominican Republic are in the driver's seat, with a 2-0 aggregate lead and two road goals in hand.
Aruba hosted St. Lucia at its national stadium in Oranjestad. Both teams have legitimate hopes of advancing, but certainly St. Lucia were considered the favorites. Aruba found the opener in the first quarter hour, but the visitors equalized within six minutes to knot the score anew. The half drew to a close with the score 1-1. In the first minute of the second half, all pandemonium broke less. Both teams scored a goal in a frenzied restart to the match.
The result now rested on the final 44 minutes of the half. Aruba's first substitute, Frederick Gomez, replaced national team mainstay Maurice Escalona, scorer of their second goal. Gomez promptly delivered Aruba's third goal to open up a 3-2 lead.
Bernard Edward was sent packing for St. Lucia after picking up his second yellow of the second half in minute 83, a mistake which was soon thereafter punished. The young Aruban striker David Abdul, a former Dutch first division player with Sparta Rotterdam, scored a mere minute after the expulsion to finish off the scoring for the night. Abdul's goal came in his first appearance for his national team. His strike gave Aruba a 4-2 victory on the night, though the series will be decided in four days' time. The consolation for St. Lucia will be that they did pick up two road goals which would come in handy were they to win the return leg 2-0 or 3-1. This win was just the second for Aruba in its FIFA World Cup history.
Dominican Republic
Domingo Peralta 8
Jonathan Faña 42
Aruba
Erik Santos de Gouveia 13
Maurice Escalona 46
Frederick Gomez 74
David Abdul 84
St. Lucia
Kevin Edward 19
Kurt Frederick 46
Match Reports:
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