Late strike secures draw for Sugar Boyz

Rogers Kimaree’s 87th minute equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for St Kitts and Nevis against Mauritius in the tri-nation tournament at the Mumbai Football Arena.

Jean Sarah had put Mauritius ahead in the first half.

After a 2-1 defeat to India in the opening match, it was a much improved performance from Mauritius, especially in the second half as the Caribbean outfit turned on the heat.

Mauritius would have ended on the winning side had it converted a handful of chances that came its way.

The St Kitts and Nevis defence, which was anxiously passing back to goalkeeper to try and ease pressure, was caught napping in the 18th minute.

Pascal Balsson picked out Sarah in the box with a floated ball, and the latter leapt up and nodded home without any defender to trouble him.

Mauritius looked organised in the first half, showing potency in attack, closing gaps in the midfield and denying the opponents the room in its quarter.

Another attempt at goal, this time by Jean Jocelyn, was palmed away by Jeffers Jamal as St Kitts & Nevis withstood waves of attacks.

At the other end, James Caserne rushed off the line to narrow down the angle and managed to block a shot from Kimaree.

Caserne had a couple of tense moments as he charged out and missed the ball once, and later fumbled with a collection.

The equaliser came when Kimaree finally found the net after doing the hard work by veering away into the space on the right and then blasting it home with only the goalkeeper to beat.

St Kitts and Nevis takes on India tomorrow the tournament’s final game.