Nelson's penalty grants St. Kitts a 2-1 win over nine-men St. Lucia

St. Kitts and Nevis mounts on top of the Western Zone of the Caribbean Soccer Cup as Viceroy Nelson's penalty gives them a victory against St. Lucia in a fast tempo and physical game. 

Viceroy Nelson's 88th minute penalty was the decider as St. Kitts and Nevis edged a physical St. Lucia team, who had two men sent off, 2-1 Sunday evening at Thomas Jefferson High School Field.

St. Kitts' Nathaniel Brown and St. Lucia's Rashid Duncan exchanged goals in the first and second half respectively before Nelson converted the game winning penalty.

The 20-year-old is delighted about scoring a goal of this importance for his country, but had to overcome a bit of a nerve-wreck to send the St. Kitts fans happy.

"It's always a good feeling," Nelson said, "playing for your country and scoring the winning penalty in a game like this, it's a great feeling-- never felt better."

He later added: "For me, this is the first time I'm playing in this tournament so to look at the St. Kitts fans, it was a little nervous feeling but once I put the penalty in the net, it felt good."

The Kittians (2-0-1) top the Western Zone of the Caribbean Cup after this win with seven points, while St. Lucia (0-1-2) remains to fifth position with two points.

St. Kitts looked as if they were going to take an early lead when Lucia's Tariq Hippolyte was dispossessed by Nelson in the middle of the pitch. Nelson charged forward before cutting diagonally across the goal and curling a shot just outside the goal in only the seventh minute of play.

Coach Roy Charles' side did find the lead later in the 22nd minute. Kadeem Innis was well marked by a couple of St. Lucia defenders and was forced to pass the ball back to Brown in midfield. The forward whipped one from outside the 18 and saw his effort shake the bottom right corner of the net.

On the other hand, St. Lucia failed to put a shot on frame in the first period. They first tested opposing keeper Malik Liburd two minutes into the second half when Daran Fedee curved a beauty from the left side of the 18. Liburd performed an outstanding one-hand save to keep his team on top.

The game was interrupted by brutal fouls from time to time. Indeed, Kerwin Edwin clashed with Brown with a fierce standing tackle in the 26th minute, which granted him a yellow card. This resulted into a quarrel between the two sides, in which Edwin received a second yellow: an expulsion.

20-year-old Brown spoke of the physicality of the game. "The game was very physical," Brown said, "but I had an injured groin so that's why I looked a little weak on the field."

Although they were down one man, the Helen of the West Indies fought and fought until they found an equalizer four minutes left in the game. Delorn Theodule passed the ball across the top of the 18 to Duncan, who kept his shot hard and low and beyond keeper Liburd.

It wasn't all that was written in the game. Devonte Fahie hit a long ball to Alister Warner inside the box. As Fahie was about to fire a shot, John Joseph brought him. Joseph forced a penalty and was ejected as he received a second yellow.

The second youngest St. Kitts player on the field, Nelson, was called on to take the spot kick and made no mistake in doing so. The youngster sent the ball right as Chad Phillip dove left.

The two-island country's assistant coach Ivan Walters is content of his players' performance but still believes that his side can improve.

"I'm expecting us, St. Kitts, coach [Roy Charles], the team as they get more chances to play to together, I think we will see a better performance."

Next up for Lucia is Barbados on July 17th at 1:30 p.m., meanwhile St. Kitts takes on Panama July 24th at 1:30 p.m. as well-- a game that Walters is "confident" that his side will come out victorious.

Statistics

St. Kitts and Nevis
Shots (on target): 22 (12)
Saves: 3
Corners: 1
Offsides: 1
Fouls: 10
Yellow cards: 1-- V. Nelson
Red cards: 0

St. Lucia
Shots: 10 (3)
Saves: 12
Corners: 7
Offsides: 1
Fouls: 7
Yellow cards: 5-- L. Marcellin, G. Valcin, J. Joseph (2), K. Edwin
Red cards: 2-- K. Edwin, J. Joseph

Fun Stats

• St. Kitts committed more fouls than St. Lucia but received less cards.
• St. Lucia keeper Chad Phillip had 12 saves in a losing effort.
• St. Lucia had more cards than shots on target, seven bookings but only three shots on target.

Man of the Match

Viceroy Nelson: 1 goal (game winning penalty kick).