Martinique win Outre-Mer battle, top group and send French Guiana out

Martinique ran out 3-1 winners of fellow non-FIFA side French Guiana to secure their appearance in the Caribbean Cup semi-finals, as well as a place in next summer’s Gold Cup in the United States. The defeat put out French Guiana, ending a fairy-tale campaign in which the underdogs achieved a great deal simply in getting to the finals.

After both teams shared one national anthem it was Les Matinino who started the brighter, and in the 11^th minute they took the lead. A long ball out of defence was chased by Frédéric Piquionne who had the simple task of lifting the ball past Laurent Petchy for his 2^nd goal of the tournament. In the 27^th minute French Guiana captain Jean-Claude Darcheville tested his former Bordeaux team mate Kévin Olimpa from a free-kick but 6 minutes later it was 2-0 to Martinique. darcheville free-kick saved. Steeve Gustan, back in the side, played in Kévin Parsemain tucked the ball beynd Petchy in typically clinical fashion.

In the 2^nd half Darchville brought the best out of Olimpa again from a free-kick, this time the goalkeeper tipping a powerful shot onto the bar as French Guiana urgently attempted to find a route back. They continued to press and substitute Stanley Ridel shot into the side-netting just after the hour. Piquionne headed wide in the 67^th minute but with 12 minutes to go Anthony Angély wrapped up the win when he knocked home a rebound after Petchy blocked Nicolas Mirza’s shot. Darchville finally got on the score-sheet in the 81^st minute when his free-kick sailed past everyone and into the net but it was mere consolation.

The 3 points mean Les Matinino will finish top, meeting Trinidad & Tobago in the semi-finals on Friday. They last reached the final 4 of the Caribbean Cup in 2001. Martinique have only reached the Gold Cup on 3 occasions, most recently in 2003, and this year’s qualification means there will be non-FIFA representation at CONCACAF’s showpiece tournament next summer. Updates from Friday’s semi-final will be available via our Twitter service @NonFIFAfootball from 19:00 (23:00 U.K).

Match information –

Score: French Guiana 1 - 3 Martinique

Goals: French Guiana – Jean-Claude Darcheville 81’. Martinique - Frédéric Piquionne 11, Kévin Parsemain 33’, Anthony Angély 78’.

French Guiana XI: Petchy; Marigard [Habran 51’], Torvic, Evens [Ridel 59’], Lesperance; Ajaiso, Jean-Jacques; Darcheville, Malouda [Adinge 51’]; Pigrée, Sophie.

Martinique XI: Olimpa; Zaire, Herelle [Reuperne?], Germany [Angély 23’], Sery; Gustan, Cretinoir, Bannais, Mirza [Ravi 80’]; Parsemain, Piquionne.