Barbados were held to a goalless draw by Dominica in Thursday night’s international friendly at the Dominica Football Association (DFA) Technical Centre in Roseau.
The result mirrored the closely contested nature of their last meeting in 2021, when the sides played to a 1-1 draw during a 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Concacaf First Round match at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in the Dominican Republic. Emile Saimovici and Julian Wade were the scorers on that night for Barbados and Dominica respectively.
With both teams fielding starting XIs made up entirely of locally-based players, the contest lacked attacking sharpness and was ultimately characterised by wayward finishing and missed opportunities. Dominica edged the shots on target count five to four, but neither side could find the cutting edge to tilt the match in their favour.
The opening half was a scrappy affair dominated by set-pieces and long throws, as both teams struggled to establish rhythm in open play. Barbados created the game’s first real opening in the 13th minute, when midfielders Sheran Hoyte and Darian King combined neatly down the left channel. King whipped in a teasing cross that narrowly eluded the diving Khimani Cox, only to be cleared with urgency by the Dominican defence.
The hosts nearly capitalised on a Barbadian error ten minutes later. A loose pass at the top of the penalty area gifted Dominica a three-on-two scenario, but forward Audel Laville squandered the advantage by opting for a tame first-time shot instead of squaring to an unmarked Travis Joseph. Goalkeeper Jireh Malcolm gathered comfortably.
Malcolm was called into action again in the 33rd minute after Ricardio Morris’ misjudged header fell kindly to Cobin Paul. The Dominican midfielder struck on the half-volley from the edge of the box, but his weak attempt failed to trouble the Barbadian custodian.
Barbados’ best chance of the half fell to defender Mario Williams in the 39th minute. Booked inside the opening five minutes, Williams found himself unmarked at the back post after Carl Hinkson nodded a recycled free-kick back into the danger area. However, his swivelled effort lacked conviction and was easily held by goalkeeper Jerome Burkard.
Dominica should have broken the deadlock just two minutes into the second half. A deft lofted pass from Donte Warrington found Joseph in space inside the penalty area, but with Malcolm rushing off his line and Jaiden Miller closing fast, the forward lifted his shot over the bar.
As the game wore on and substitutions disrupted the flow, Barbados began to assert themselves. Midfielder Jaheim Neblett fired wide twice following promising build-up down the left, while Darian King saw a header from a corner comfortably saved.
In the dying moments, Barbados’ substitute goalkeeper Raheim Agard preserved the clean sheet with an acrobatic diving save to deny Laville’s 30-yard free-kick that looked destined to be the winner.
The two sides will meet again on Sunday, May 11, at Windsor Park Sports Stadium, where both will hope for more precision and less profligacy in front of goal.
