The Saint Lucia Football Association’s Northern Zone Under-20 Men’s District Tournament has wrapped up its group stage, with La Clery producing a flawless performance to top the group standings after four consecutive wins. Their final group match, held on the night of April 1 at the Grande Riviere Playing Field, ended in a dominant 4-1 victory over Marchand, cementing their unblemished record ahead of the knockout stage.
From kickoff, La Clery dictated the tempo of the clash against Marchand. It did not take long for them to break the deadlock, as striker Mehki Phillip found the back of the net in the first half to put his side ahead. Just three minutes after the restart for the second half, Alex Devaux doubled La Clery’s advantage, putting the team in a strong position to close out the win.
Marchand refused to fold, however, and pulled one goal back in the 56th minute through Jalen Phamphile, setting up a tense final 30 minutes. But La Clery’s youth international forward Justice Germaine stole the show in the final stretch, netting two quick goals in the 67th and 70th minutes to extinguish Marchand’s comeback hopes. His second goal, a perfectly placed header from a Devaux corner, stands as the highlight of the match. Despite the loss, Marchand still secured enough points through the group stage to advance to the semifinal round.
In the other decisive final group match, Gros Islet locked up the tournament’s second seed with a lopsided 7-0 thrashing of winless Central Castries. Gros Islet had already built a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime, and never let up their pressure through the final 45 minutes.
Gros Islet’s top scorer Rickelme Lionel opened the scoring just eight minutes into the contest: he intercepted a loose pass in the attacking third, broke through on goal for a one-on-one chance with the Central Castries goalkeeper, and slotted a low shot into the left corner to open the account. Thierry Morille, who would finish the match with four goals, scored twice more before the break, both set up by aggressive pressing and quick distribution from Lionel. Morille added two more goals in the second half to cap his individual rout, while returning senior international Shevon Byron got in on the action with two goals of his own in the 47th and 58th minutes.
With the group stage now complete in the Northern Zone, the tournament will move to the semifinal knockout round, scheduled for Sunday, April 12. The four remaining teams still in contention for the regional title are Babonneau, Gros Islet, La Clery, and Marchand.
For the Eastern Zone Under-20 Men’s competition, group stage play is set to resume this Saturday, April 4 at the Micoud Playing Field. Two matchups are on the schedule: Mabouya Valley will face off against Dennery, followed by a clash between Mon Repos and Desruisseaux.