Club Atlético Pantoja 1 (9-8) 1 CCCUL Dublanc FC
Club Atlético Pantoja claim third place of 2024 CFU Club Shield after penalty shootout with CCCUL Dublanc
Club Atlético Pantoja 1 (9-8) 1 CCCUL Dublanc FC
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao (August 4, 2024)—The match to determine third place of the 2024 CFU Club Shield came down to sudden death penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw at the end of regular time, with Club Atlético Pantoja of the Dominican Republic prevailing 9-8 over CCCUL Dublanc FC of Dominica. The teams were playing at Stadion Rignaal Jean Francisca on Sunday.
Dublanc FC took the lead as early as the 4’ when a penalty kick was awarded to the team after Alexander Amut inadvertently used his hands to block a Briel Thomas effort on goal. Travist Joseph stepped up to the spot and made no mistake in giving his team an early lead, sending his effort to the left of Mario Marte in goal. Pantoja looked to get back into the match with short, quick passing, looking to play between the lines. Still, Dublanc FC kept displaying the compact organization and rugged defense fans grew used to in the competition.
Club Atlético Pantoja, now enjoying the lion’s share of possession, had the chance to equalize in minute 16. They were awarded a penalty kick when Danir Moreno was brought down in the box clumsily by Matteo Riviere. Fabricio Morena stepped up to take the spot kick but saw his attempt go harmlessly over the crossbar.
With his team under increased pressure, Dublanc’s Audel Laville had a chance against the run of play. Receiving the ball with his back to the goal, Laville produced a splendid display of skill to lose his marker but shot over the top in the 23’. Pantoja’s midfielder Gerard Lavergne thought he had pulled his team level in the 25’. Lavergne’s long-distance effort surprised Jerome Burkard in goal for Dublanc, but the custodian quickly recovered to push the ball away for a corner kick.
Lavergne continued to pull the strings in the middle of the field for Club Atlético Pantoja, but saw wave after wave of attack repelled by a dogged defensive unit for Dublanc FC. A long throw into the penalty area in the 40’ made for a nervy moment for Mario Marte in goal for Pantoja, but Savio Anselm headed over the crossbar, much to the relief of the diminutive goal keeper.
Laville benefited from a breakdown in midfield in the 42’ and looked to catch Marte off his line, but his speculative effort went wide of the mark. The half-time whistle soon followed, much to the relief of Coach Malcolm Bertrand, with his team holding on to a slender one-goal lead.
Chasing the game now, Pantoja coach Jesus Quintero made two changes to start the second half, introducing Aricheell Hernandez and Robert Rosado. The team wasted no time in pegging back their opponents and again came close to drawing level in the 53’. Luis Espinal had his effort headed off the line after Bryan More hit the back post with a cross from the right side. Pantoja were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area after captain Luis Espinal impeded, but Rosado couldn’t keep his effort down.
Dublanc began finding more space and time to play as Pantoja committed more bodies forward. Laville should have extended his team’s lead in the 65’ after turning neatly in the box, but his left-footed effort went wide of the goal.
Pantoja substitute Aricheell Hernandez latched on to a Bryan More through-pass in the 72’, but Burkard raced off his line to smother the attack. Moments later Burkard came to his teams rescue again, this time blocking Hernandez’s effort on a dangerous cross from the left side of the field.
Things got worse for Pantoja when Espinal received marching orders in the 76’ for violent conduct, reducing Pantoja to 10 players for the rest of the match. The equalizer did, however, come in the 82’ courtesy Robert Rosado. Rosado benefited from a collision between Burkard and Jahiem Maxime when Burkard raced off his line to a ball over the top, but he collided with his retreating defender. Rosado was on hand to tap into an open goal.
With penalty kicks looming, both teams threw caution to the wind, and a series of attacks ensued on both ends, but four minutes of extra time was not enough to separate the teams.
In the ensuing shootout, Dublanc FC had conversions from Chad Bertrand, Audel Laville, McComey Royer, Travist Joseph, Irvin Shillingford, Matteo Riviere, Cobin Paul, and Jerome Burkard. Oran Sabaroche had his spot kick saved by Marte. For Pantoja, Robert Rosado, Aricheell Hernandez, Gerard Lavergne, Fabricio Moreno, Alexander Amut, Mario Marte, Alfeni Tamarez, Oscalin Ferreras, and Luis Diaz all converted their kicks to clinch the bronze medals.
Media contact
Mickel Brann-Challenger
