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• Village Superstars secure historic treble of SKNFA youth titles

  The Rams Village Superstars etched their names in St. Kitts and Nevis football history, clinching a remarkable trilogy of titles in the SKNFA Youth League for 2024. Following victories in the Rams Premier Youth Cup U13 and the Atiba Harris U15 League, the Superstars capped off their youth league dominance by securing the Keith Gumbs U17 League title, reinforcing their position as the premier youth development club in the nation.

  In the fiercely contested U13 final, Village Superstars faced Conaree Fireball International, with the match going down to the wire. Village initially took a commanding 3-1 lead in the first half, but in a dramatic twist, Conaree Fireball mounted a comeback, tying the game and forcing a penalty shootout. Despite Conaree’s resilience, Village held their nerve to emerge victorious from the spot, lifting the U13 title in a thrilling conclusion. After the match, SKNFA President Atiba Harris and Rams Trading General Manager Shaun Weston presented the championship medals and trophy to Village Superstars and their captain, Kazai Rawlins, who was named MVP for his exceptional performances throughout the tournament.

  Reflecting on their journey to the title, Rawlins credited the team’s hard work and dedication in training. “We worked hard to come this far,” he said. His teammate, Darius Rey, echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the ups and downs the team overcame. “We did good. We had some ups and downs, but we still came back and we still came in first,” Rey said, highlighting their perseverance in the face of Conaree’s comeback.

  Conaree’s coach, Harrold Wharton, acknowledged the heartbreak of the loss and admitted to a tactical misstep that may have cost them the title. “After we went down to the second goal, I took too long to adjust,” Wharton explained. Despite the setback, he lauded his team’s determination, saying, “They’re very determined. I’m confident next year we are going to be in the finals again.”

  In the U17 final, the Superstars proved equally formidable, claiming a 2-0 victory over Dieppe Bay. Captain Carl Newtown, who scored in the match, noted Dieppe Bay’s strong start but credited his team’s ability to adapt and control the game. “For the first 15 minutes, they hit us. After that, we started to control the game from the back, and even when we felt the pressure, we played through it,” Newtown said.

  This treble marks the second time Village Superstars have achieved such a feat, having previously won all three youth titles in the 2020 season. “No other team has ever done that,” Newtown proudly stated, reflecting on the significance of their historic achievement.

  With this treble triumph, Rams Village Superstars have not only showcased their strength in the present but have also set a benchmark for youth football development in St. Kitts and Nevis, inspiring future generations of players and securing their legacy as a powerhouse in SKNFA youth leagues.

   

   

• Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Young Boys: First-half comeback gives hosts Champions League hope

  Shakhtar Donetsk staged a quick first-half comeback to earn a 2-1 home victory over Young Boys in their Champions League clash on Wednesday.

  Both sides entered the game winless, and Young Boys grabbed the lead in the 27th minute when Kastriot Imeri struck from close range.

  But Shakhtar responded swiftly in Gelsenkirchen as Oleksandr Zubkov tapped in four minutes later to restore parity.

  And Heorhii Sudakov, who teed up the equaliser, then put Shakhtar ahead four minutes before the interval, with that goal proving enough to take maximum points.

  Shakhtar now have four for the campaign, while Young Boys are still waiting on their first point after four straight defeat to begin the campaign.

  Data Debrief: Breakthroughs at last on matchday four

  Not only were both teams looking for their first wins on Wednesday, neither had even found the net.

  Imeri broke Young Boys' duck with their 40th shot of the campaign, but the lead was short-lived as Shakhtar's 25th attempt of the season brought them level.

  The Ukrainian outfit went on to register their third Champions League home win in four matches as they pursue a place in the play-off round, while Young Boys are really up against it.

  They have not won any of their 11 away games in the competition and must surely end that run against Stuttgart or Celtic to have any hope of advancing.

• Club Brugge 1-0 Aston Villa: Mings calamity ends unbeaten Champions League run

  Tyrone Mings' calamitous mistake proved costly as Aston Villa lost 1-0 to Club Brugge in the Champions League.

  Villa had won their opening three games in the competition, but their unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt in Belgium on Wednesday.

  Mings was at fault as he conceded a bizarre penalty early in the second half.

  On his first Champions League appearance, Mings inexplicably picked the ball when it was passed his way by Emiliano Martinez, believing it was not in play.

  The referee pointed to the penalty spot, with the spot-kick confirmed by VAR, and Hans Vanaken converted from 12 yards.

  Unai Emery's side failed to create much of note from then on, and finished with just 0.4 expected goals (xG) from what was a disappointing attacking display.

  Brugge are now on six points, three behind Villa.

  Data Debrief: Brugge finally claim an English scalp

  This was Brugge's first win over an English team in Europe since they beat Chelsea in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1995, ending a run of 14 matches without a victory against English teams.

  Villa, meanwhile, failed to become just the fourth team to win their first four Champions League matches, after Milan (1993), Paris Saint-Germain (1994) and Juventus (1995).