Earlier today Romaine Sawyers' Saint Kitts and Nevis side played host to El Salvador in the first leg of their latest round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Romaine, along with former Saddler Febian Brandy, was named in the starting XI with the Sugar Boyz' coach Jeffrey Hazel looking to name his strongest line up going into an important game.
El Salvador enjoyed much of the ball in a free-kick heavy first half and had a couple of shots on goal, La Selecta's Irvin Herrera opened the scoring after around forty minutes, the striker capitalising on the St Kitts 'keeper Juliani Archibald's slow reactions to knock the ball past him with his heel.
St Kitts were much better in the second half and enjoyed some good spells of attacking play, Romaine Sawyers, who spent large periods of the game in a wide position, picked up a booking after the hour mark as his somewhat bit-part participation in the game began to frustrate the Birmingham-born attacker.
The Sugar Boyz levelled the scores just before the seventy-minute mark, Orlando Mitchum finding the back of the net as the hosts made the most of their time on the ball. This was swiftly followed up by a sublime goal from the Saddlers' Sawyers, he skilfully beat his marker to slide the ball past La Selecta 'keeper Carrillo, a great few minutes for the unfancied side.
With just a few minutes of play remaining El Salvador got back on level terms, second-half substitute Nelson Bonilla heading home from a dangerous cross, a disappointing end for the home side as they'd made such an impact during the second half.
The Sugar Boyz levelled the scores just before the seventy-minute mark, Orlando Mitchum finding the back of the net as the hosts made the most of their time on the ball. This was swiftly followed up by a sublime goal from the Saddlers' Sawyers, he skilfully beat his marker to slide the ball past La Selecta 'keeper Carrillo, a great few minutes for the unfancied side.
With just a few minutes of play remaining El Salvador got back on level terms, second-half substitute Nelson Bonilla heading home from a dangerous cross, a disappointing end for the home side as they'd made such an impact during the second half.
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER (1st LEG)
FT: St KITTS & NEVIS 2 - 2 EL SALVADOR
Mitchum 68', Sawyers 70' - Herrera 40', Bonilla 86'
FT: St KITTS & NEVIS 2 - 2 EL SALVADOR
Mitchum 68', Sawyers 70' - Herrera 40', Bonilla 86'
El Salvador were one of the highest ranked sides the Sugar Boyz have faced on the road to 2018 and they will be delighted to go into the second leg on level terms.