LES ABYMES, Guadeloupe (Interstat) — Saint Lucia defeated Guadeloupe 1-0 on Monday, getting an early goal from K. Caull and then holding the home side scoreless for the remainder of the match. Saint Lucia never trailed. Guadeloupe never led. Caull scored in the fifth minute, with Kurt Frederick credited with the assist. The visitors protected the narrow lead through a physical second half and a late stretch of stoppage time to remain unbeaten in the competition. Saint Lucia improved to two wins and no losses in the competition and two wins and no losses across all competitions. Guadeloupe fell to no wins and two losses in the competition and no wins and two losses across all competitions.

The match turned on its first clear moment. Saint Lucia started with purpose and was rewarded when Caull finished in the 5th minute. Frederick, who played the full 90 minutes, provided the assist and later received a yellow card. Caull stayed in the match until he was substituted in the 83rd minute. After his goal, neither side scored again. Saint Lucia led 1-0 at halftime and maintained that advantage through the final whistle. Guadeloupe pushed for an equalizer in the second half, but the home team could not find a goal.

Discipline became a major part of the game as the teams combined for seven yellow cards. Saint Lucia’s A. Jouis was booked in the 30th minute. A. Jude-Boyd received a yellow card in the 61st minute, and K. Frederick was cautioned in the 65th. Guadeloupe’s S. Darase was booked in the 72nd minute. The home side then received three more yellow cards in stoppage time. D. Boisne was cautioned in the 90th minute, A. Vulgaire in the 90+2nd minute and M. Cysique in the 90+4th minute. The bookings came as Guadeloupe searched for an equalizer and Saint Lucia worked to close out the result.

Both teams made changes as the second half progressed. Guadeloupe’s first substitution came in the 13th minute with Y. Raddas. The home team made two more substitutions in the 75th minute, involving M. Citronnelle and A. Plumain. Saint Lucia replaced Caull in the 83rd minute. Guadeloupe’s final substitution came in the 87th minute with J. Gamby. The moves did not change the scoreline, and Saint Lucia held on for the road win. The visiting side finished the match with the only goal of the game, while Guadeloupe was kept off the scoresheet. The visitors held on late. The final whistle confirmed the win. The home team fell short in the final minutes.

The result continued Saint Lucia’s perfect start to the season. Saint Lucia is now two wins and no losses in the competition and two wins and no losses across all competitions. Guadeloupe is now no wins and two losses in the competition and no wins and two losses across all competitions. In the teams’ previous meeting this season, Saint Lucia defeated Guadeloupe 3-0. That match was played at Saint Lucia, while this rematch was played with Guadeloupe as the home team. Saint Lucia has now won both of the head-to-head meetings between the sides this season. The previous result and the current one have both ended with Saint Lucia ahead.

Saint Lucia’s victory came despite pregame projections that favored Guadeloupe in one model and predicted a much larger Saint Lucia win in another. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Saint Lucia 5, Guadeloupe 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Guadeloupe with a 60.8 percent probability to win. The actual result was a one-goal Saint Lucia win, with Caull’s fifth-minute strike standing as the difference.