Matchday Four Review

It’s hard to believe that we’ve already played four rounds of fixtures in the Caribbean Mega League and this weekend saw some of the biggest and best teams in the league send out a message to those around them. With some big derbies and rivalries being fought out on the pitch in front of bumper crowds, the world’s newest league is proving to be even more popular than anybody

could have imagined.

The first ever “El Dominicano” derby was as exciting, albeit not as closely-fought, as predicted with Republican Rabbits showing why many have made them the pre-season favourites as they knocked little Dominica Dominoes out of Palo Park with a resounding 6-0 victory. Nine of the starting eleven for the Rabbits made the ‘Team of the Week’ and although it would be the usual suspect Juan Guillermo Vélez who’ll steal the headlines with yet another two goals for the season, Tom Meadowcroft spoke out about the performances of his central midfielders and full-backs who also got involved in all elements of the game. From the heart of midfield, Robert Raynier Rosado grabbed the first of the afternoon in the opening ten minutes before Vélez could get a six-minute double that put the hosts in absolute control. Turkish winger Adem Sener clumsily knocked one into his own net to make it 4-0 at the break, but in the second-half we’d see two thunderous strikes as Cameroonian Frank Angong got in on the act and then Rosado finished things off as he whacked home the last. Manuary Gonzáles and Manuel Cuárez were fabulous as wing-backs and both contributed assists, making for an all-round perfect display against the side who went into the game top of the table.

In the other big derby game, Ajax Oranjestad were left with egg on their faces as they could only take a point off of fellow Dutch-Caribbean natives Suriname Sharks. This tactical battle between Max Alderson and Richard Gray was tense to say the least and both sides could only muster two shots on target each. The deadlock was eventually broken at ArenArubA as Josh Gross scored his second consecutive goal in front of his home fans, which on this occasion was made even more special as it appeared to come at a very advantageous time just fifteen minutes before the end of play. The Nethermen played right the way until the end though and as the Oranje Boys defenders tried their hardest to keep the score at 1-0 at one end, the Suriname centre-backs piled forward hoping to make a difference of their own. In the end, it paid off as Ivanildo Misidjan leapt up to head home the equaliser and therefore sent the South American away support laughing all the way back to Suriname with a point that kept the Sharks above Oranjestad.

Jamrock Juniors continued their march with a third straight win, this time away at Limbo Leopards, whilst in the other games Spicy Doves climbed into third place after battling to victory over Bermuda Tempest and in Haiti Vodou People also won by two goals as they saw off James Bennett’s Bajan Boppers. Last but not least, Redonda Rockys finally grabbed that first victory they’ve craved for as a late Avier Christian goal saw off a poor Moko-Jumbies FC.

Matchday Five is bound to bring more tasty tussles as all of the top three sides face away days, with Republican Rabbits going to fourth place Moko-Jumbies, Jamrock Juniors visiting a deflated Dominica Dominoes side and Spicy Doves going down to Suriname Sharks. Ajax Oranjestad will host basement club Limbo Leopards, whilst Bajan Boppers take on a resurgent Redonda Rockys and Bermuda Tempest welcome Vodou People to the Hidden Ground. Any one of six could end the day in top spot!