History was made Tuesday night at DRV PNK Stadium, the future home of Lionel Messi, as Saint Kitts and Nevis defeated French Guiana in a penalty shootout to advance to the Concacaf Gold Cup group stage for the first time ever.
The Sugar Boyz — ranked 139th in the world — got themselves to the Gold Cup qualifying prelims in Fort Lauderdale by topping their group in Nations League C, but they had to get by Curaçao (a 2019 quarterfinalist) in the semifinals last Friday (which went to a penalty shootout) before Tuesday night's dramatics against French Guiana.
The squad is mainly a mixture of guys who play domestically in the SKNFA Premier League or in the lower tiers of English football, but the hero was 32-year-old goalkeeper Julani Archibald. He plays in Spain's fifth division with Lorca Deportiva.
His message with Saint Kitts and Nevis now in a group that contains the USMNT, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago: "We just go out and compete. We've got 11 players on the field at the start of the game, so let's go out and compete."
️ "This is historic for us." - Julani Archibald.@SKNFA_ | #GoldCup pic.twitter.com/xZ3WjZfuvo
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) June 21, 2023
22-year-old Mervin Lewis converted the all-important penalty in the shootout.
Mervin Lewis scored the penalty shot that gave @SKNFA_ their first ticket in #GoldCup group stage history! pic.twitter.com/mVa8JgxIul
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) June 21, 2023
The Sugar Boyz open against T&T on Sunday at DRV PNK Stadium before traveling to CityPark in St. Louis to play the defending champion USMNT. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Saint Kitts and Nevis vs. French Guiana highlights
⚽ Relive the thrilling highlights from the intense clash between @SKNFA_ and @lfgfootguyane!
️ For the recap go to https://t.co/71sqJRLhVPDon't miss a moment! #GoldCup Prelims pic.twitter.com/UonEZwsA7r
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) June 21, 2023
