In a dramatic conclusion to their Concacaf Under-20 Men’s Qualifiers campaign, the Saint Lucia national team suffered a devastating last-minute defeat against the British Virgin Islands (BVI), culminating in a 2-1 final score. The Group C finale, contested on Tuesday at the Complejo Deportivo FCRF-Plycem in San Rafael de Alajuela, Costa Rica, saw the ‘Piton Boyz’ initially seize control before a stunning comeback sealed their fate.
The young Saint Lucian squad ignited hopes of a victorious send-off when forward Kallis Mondesir broke the deadlock just two minutes after the second-half whistle, finding the net in the 47th minute. This early advantage, however, proved short-lived. BVI’s Jaadon Quashie emerged as the protagonist of the match, first neutralizing Saint Lucia’s lead with a 55th-minute equalizer.
With the match seemingly destined for a draw, Quashie delivered a decisive blow in the 84th minute, securing his brace and clinching a monumental 2-1 win for the British Virgin Islands. This victory marks a significant milestone for BVI, representing their first triumph in the tournament held in Costa Rica.
The result finalizes the Group C standings, with Saint Lucia finishing in fourth position, only above bottom-placed Dominica. The dramatic win propelled the British Virgin Islands to third place in the five-team group. Meanwhile, group honors were claimed by Antigua & Barbuda, who secured a narrow 1-0 victory over the Dominican Republic to earn qualification for the 2026 Concacaf Under-20 Championship.