Martinique played champagne football to leave St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) with a 3-0 hangover as the Digicel Caribbean Championships Group E got uncorked.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines had been the surprise package of last year’s DCC tournament, with both they and Martinique advancing to the final stages, but with a retooled squad mostly comprised of teenagers, SVG would find it difficult to reproduce the stellar performances of two years ago against a Martinique side brimming with flair.
Martinique approached the first half as though anything less than a victory would be uncivilized, and immediately settled into their nonchalant passing game, with former Bordeaux standout Steeve Gustan and Mikael Chorsora carving opportunities with each forward move. The Vincentian’s would eventually succumb to the early pressure when, after a breezy run and cross from Patrick Parcin on the left, SVG’s Roy Richards somehow forced the ball into his own net after just 4 minutes.
Having seen a goal within the opening four minutes the majority of the crowd wondered what kind of beating the French department would have in store for the outclassed Vincentian’s. But despite repeated opportunities, with cultured build-up play along the flanks and through the middle, Martinique seemed low on goal scoring stock, as shot after shot was sent wide of the mark, seemingly without their barcodes.
Martinique was so dominant in fact, that it would take ten minutes before SVG were able to put together a meaningful attack. It seemed that the ball belonged to Martinique, and SVG were only allowed to borrow it briefly. One such loan, following a suspect back-pass, saw Reginald Payne latch on and strike directly at former French Ligue 1 goalkeeper Hugues-Des-Etanger.
Another occasion saw the Martinican goalkeeper called into action again. When after neat buildup play through Jolan-Shoy Mcdowall, Amon Bascombe and Emerald George, Des Etanger had to react quickly to deny Bascombe.
But with little or no response from the SVG outfit, who gave Martinique too much respect and time to play, it came as a surprise when the pacy Reginald Payne rode three challenges before taking a tumble at the edge of the 18 yard box. However the resultant free kick was squandered with a dismal shot over the bar.
Martinique’s interpretation of the beautiful game seemed to lose something in translation as far as finishing was concerned in the first half. But with a nation that has produced world class talent in the form of Gael Clichy, Eric Abidal and Nicolas Anelka you knew it was only a matter of time before they toasted to their talents again.
Martinique started the second half with a better vintage, and put the game on ice within moments of the restart, the laissez-faire attitude in attack that typified the first half, was replaced by a killer instinct, as within a minute of the restart a re-focused team doubled their lead, when Jose Goron’s deep cross found Patrick Percin on the prowl at the far post.
Barely a minute later, the Martinicans saw the score beginning to reflect their absolute dominance, when for the second time in the match, St. Vincent and the Grenadines committed footballing suicide. Following a low cross from Chorsora, goalkeeper Winslow McDowall inexplicably attempted to clear with a sliding tackle, but instead took the score to three nil, with an almost comedic own goal.
St. Vincent tried for the consolation of a late goal, but when a deep cross from the left found Reginald Payne at the back-post, his volley pained most who saw it.
Martinique would continue to create chances with their irresistibly slick passing, but would be unable to add to their 3 goal tally.
The Gaelic go getters look set to continue a trend that has seen all previous hosts qualify for the next round, as they romped to a 3-0 victory against St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the opener of Group E of the Digicel Caribbean Championships.
Martinique: 24. Eddy Heurlie, 6. Joan Deluge, 15. Marc-Henry Codasse, 12. Stephane Suedile, 18. Xavier Bullet (19. Gerald Dondon min 84),, 4. Daniel Herelle, 7. Rodrique Audel, 21. Mikael Chorsora (9. Kevin Joseph-Louis min 60),10. Jose Gordon (17. Yannick Ancarno min 72), 20. Steeve Gustan, 5. Patrick Percin.
Subs: (1. Arnzug Huygues-Des-Etages), (8. Arnold Polomat).
St. Vincent: 1. Winslow McDowell, 2. Jolan-Shoy McDonald (9. Richard Hayde min 56), 3. Roy Richards, 4. Chester Morgan, 5. Darren Francis, 6. Troy Jeffers, 7. Amon Bascombe (10. Myron Samuel min 70), 8. Theon Gordon, 12. Teron Miller(13. Dorren Hamlet min 81),16. Reginald Payne, 17. Emerold George,
Subs: (11. Steve Henry), (14. Keith James), (15. Ransel Badnock), (18. Camilli Samuel)
For match pictures and further information visit www.digicelfootball.com
