June 4, 2025
The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals continued this week, with CONCACAF being the first region to resume matches, and two sides who had previously featured in these diaries played the first match of round three in the Second Qualifying Round.
Dominica were covered in June 2022 when they were unexpectedly held to a 0-0 draw in Anguilla in a Nationals League tie, whilst the British Virgin Islands conceded a late goal to lose 1-3 in St Kitts and Nevis in October 2024, also in the Nations League.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/06/anguilla-0-0-dominica-att-500-estimate.html
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/10/st-kitts-and-nevis-3-1-british-virgin.html
After two rounds so far, neither Dominica or BVI looked likely to be serious contenders to qualify for the next stage of qualification from the Concacaf region, as both sides had a played two, lost two record.
Dominica had lost 0-6 in Guatemala and 2-3 at home to Jamaica. BVI had lost 0-3 at home to Guatemala and 0-4 in the Dominican Republic.
Dominica Update
Dominica came into this match 184th in the FIFA rankings, which was remarkably the same as back in June 2022.
In the recent Nation’s League competition, Dominica came third out of four in their League B group with a win ( 2-1 ) and a draw ( 0-0 ) against Antigua & Barbuda, but defeats to Dominican Republic ( 0-2 & 1-6 ) and Bermuda ( 1-6 & 2-3 ).
Dominica had warmed up for the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers with two 0-0 home draws in friendlies with Barbados.
Six of the side that appeared against Anguilla in 2022 were included in the squad for today’s match. Keeper Glenson Prince, the holder of the record of the most appearances for Dominica with 79 caps, had announced his retirement after this week’s two games, and so was making his final appearance today on Dominican soil, with his last match expected to be in the Dominican Republic on the June 10th.
Winger Audel Laville ( 29 caps ) was fourth in the all-time scoring charts with 8 goals and midfielder Briel Thomas now had 58 caps, and was playing his club football back in his homeland after a spell in Trinidad and Tobago.
The other survivors were midfielders Fitz Jolly ( 12 caps ), Javid George ( 37 caps ), who plays his club football in Jamaica, and forward Travist Joseph ( 48 caps ). Joseph had started at right-back against Anguilla, but was part of a front three today.
The notable absentee was ex-Brechin City striker Julian Wade ( 54 caps ) who is the record goal scorer with 20 goals, and is now playing for Highland League side Fortmarine United.
Apart from George, the only other member of the squad not currently playing domestically in Dominica was forward Troy Jules ( 9 caps ), who was playing in the Fourth Division in Norway.
British Virgin Islands Update
BVI were ranked 208th at the time of last October’s game in St Kitts and Nevis but had since moved up one place to 207th in the FIFA rankings, leap-frogging the US Virgin Islands.
BVI had warmed up for this game by playing two friendlies in Anguilla, drawing 0-0 and losing 0-1. Afterwards, they claimed a creditable 1-1 away to St Vincent and Grenadines.
Four of the players who featured in St Kitts started today, namely Bishop’s Stortford’s attacking midfielder Luka Callwell ( 21 caps ), Poole Town striker Tyler Forbes ( 30 caps ), right wing-back Kristian Javier ( 32 caps ) who is now playing his club football in Antigua after spells with lower league sides in the USA, and 18 year-old Johari Lacey, who is playing for Scarborough’s youth team.
18 year-old keeper Frankie Beckles ( 5 caps ) started with Shrewsbury but can now claim to have played at Wembley, albeit for Wembley FC ! Ex-Maidenhead United centre-back Jerry Wiltshire ( 16 caps ) plays for Hampton & Richmond Borough, striker Javaun Splatt plays for Hythe Town and midfielder T’Sharne Gallimore, who missed the St Kitts game due to deciding an FA Cup tie took higher priority, plays for Chesham United.
Bulgarian born 18 year-old Momchil Yordanov ( 1 cap ) is with Eastbourne Borough and Joshua Bertie ( 1 cap ) plays for Bashley.
Nine of the starting XI played their club football in the lower leagues in England, with Javier playing in Antigua, and only Joel Mars playing in the BVI league.
Matchday Information
The journey from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands to Dominica is 480 km and Inter Caribbean Airways have two scheduled flights per week. Return flights typically cost around $400 and the flight times are 1 hour 20 minutes.
The weather at the 15.00 local time kick-off ( 20.00 UK ) was sunny and 29 degrees.
The match was being played at Windsor Park in Roseau, which is the national stadium and mostly used for cricket matches and has a 12,000 capacity. Parts of the pitch looked rutted in the centre of the field, where cricket wickets would normally be.
Adult tickets for the game purchased before the day of the game were 15 ECD for adults ( £4 ) and 5 ECD for children ( £1.35 ). At the turnstile, prices were 20 ECD ( £5.50 ) and 10 ECD for children ( £ 2.75 ).
The match was shown live on the CONCACAF YouTube channel with an American English commentary. Bet365.com, who also live streamed the match, made Dominica 2/5 favourites, with BVI at 7/1 and the draw at 7/2.
Dominica were in green shirts with black shorts and green socks, whilst BVI were in all yellow.
Match Report
Dominica attacked in the first minute and Marcus Bredas went down in the BVI area after a challenge from Javier, but Mexican referee Karen Hernandez waved away the appeals for a penalty.
BVI won the first corner of the match in the 4th minute, after Lacey’s shot was deflected high over the bar. A short corner routine led to a second corner, which came to nothing.
BVI came closer in the 7th minutes but after being put clear in the right-hand channel, Chalwell’s shot across goal went narrowly wide.
At the other end, Jules did well to turn past Wiltshire and shoot from inside the BVI area. Beckles was able to get a hand to push it on to his near post, and Bertie put the rebound out for a corner.
In the 14th minutes a left wing cross for BVI was claimed by Dominica keeper Prince, who was flattened by Forbes in the process.
BVI were looking good going forward and an in-swinging free-kick from the right by Bertie was nearly headed by Chalwell, but was unconvincingly punched by Prince, and Dominica cleared the loose ball.
At the other end Jolly blazed a left footed effort high and wide from 10 yards, then BVI’s Javier received the first yellow card of the game in the 23rd minute for bringing down Bredas.
Two minutes later there was some uncertainty in the BVI defence when keeper Beckles should have claimed a left wing cross, but Wiltshire opted for safety first to put off for a corner.
A drinks break was taken after 27 minutes, and when play resumed Chalwell sent a 20-yard effort a couple of feet wide.
However, the home side quickly hit back as Eustace Marshall’s long ball put Lavelle clear, and his flick flew over the advancing keeper and bounced into the empty net. Although there was a suspicion of offside, there was no flag so the goal stood and it was 1-0 in the 29th minute.
The visitors quickly applied some pressure and won a corner, but Dominica held firm and won free kick. Shortly after, a long ball from Thomas found Jules close to the left-hand by-line, who showed good strength to see off Yordanov, and then finished from a tight angle past Beckles. A nice finish after poor defending, and it was 2-0 after 34 minutes.
BVI were rocking and a left-wing cross caused panic in the visitors’ area but BVI were able to put the ball out for a corner.
At the interval Dominica deservedly led by two goals, having produced two clinical finishes. BVI had played some nice football, but their zero shots on target told the story, together with some sloppy defending.
BVI made two changes at the interval and had a promising start to the second period but after a free-kick was cleared as far as Bertie, his 25 yard left footed effort was blocked for a throw in.
In the 53rd minute, Jules set off on a nice run on the left, and skipped past Javier, but his ball across the goalmouth was scrambled clear.
A minute later substitute Justin Forbes committee a foul just outside the BVI area and received the second yellow card for his side. The free-kick was fired in from left but keeper Beckles made a good catch.
Laville made progress down the wing and his pull back was laid off for Thomas, but the shot was pushed away by the BVI keeper for corner.
Chalwell became the next BVI player to incur the wrath of the referee for a late tackle on Jules. A quick free-kick was laid back to Jolly, who mis-kicked from 12 yards.
BVI produced a nice move in the 67th minute but Lazario’s shot from 12 yards was blocked. Splatt was then fouled 25 yards out but Chalwell’s rugby style conversion flew 20 yards over the bar.
A second water break was taken after 70 minutes, and Dominica extended their lead when play resumed. There appeared to be a strong element of fortune as a right wing cross from Laville sailed over the head of keeper Beckles, hit the far post, and bounced into the back of the next. Laville had moved to third in the Dominica all-time scoring chart with 10 goals, and the score was now 3-0 with 74 minutes played.
BVI had a great opportunity to grab a consolation goal in the 78th minute but as a cross from the left bounced across the 6-yard line. Splatt, under pressure from Bredas, could only put his effort over the bar.
The game fizzled out after this miss. Laville’s blast from a narrow angle went well over and at the other end, a BVI corner was headed well wide. A long throw by BVI bounced into the 6-yard box but keeper Prince was able to claim.
As the game moved into three added minutes a potential BVI attack ended when a pass hit the referee and a drop ball was given to BVI. For some reason a melee broke out involving most of the players, but eventually order was restored.
The last piece of action saw Bertie lift a ball over a square back line for Lazario to make a header but it was an easy save for Prince.
Dominica next travel to the Dominican Republic for their final match, whilst BVI host Steve McClaren’s Jamaica.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JW8NOPl7Tc
Dominica : Prince – Anthony, Ville, Marshall ( Ma Bonney ), Bredas – Paul ( K Thomas ), Jolly ( Edwards ), B Thomas ( Mo Bonney ) – Joseph ( Warrington ), Jules, Laville
British Virgin Islands : Beckles – Javier ( Caesar ), Yordanov ( Price ), Wiltshire, Bertie – T Forbes ( J Forbes ), Mars ( Lizario ), Gallimore, Chalwell, Lacey - Splatt
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