COUVA, Trinidad (July 27, 2025)—Forward Shai Smith scored a brace in Arnett Gardens’ comfortable 4-0 win over Dublanc FC of Dominica in Group D action of the 2025 CFU Club Shield on Sunday. The teams were playing at Ato Boldon Stadium in Trinidad.

The Jamaican outfit dominated possession early in the game and capitalized on that dominance as early as the 9th minute of play when Giovanni Taylor powered a right-footed volley past Jerome Burkard to open the scoring. 

The lead was doubled in the 12 when Burkard failed to gather what appeared to be a routine cross, leaving Smith to tap in from close range. Smith tallied his second of the match four minutes later as he knifed through a hapless Dublanc defence to slot the ball past an advancing Burkard easily.

Arnett Gardens continued their relentless assault, and Rushane Thompson’s industriousness on the left side saw his powerful low drive ricochet off the upright. A Burkard injury brought a halt to proceedings, and that respite saw Dublanc get a foothold in the match, managing to connect a few passes. But they were let down by some wayward passes in the attacking third of the field. Moments before the stroke of halftime, Shane Watson shot narrowly wide after some good buildup play on the left side, with the fullback shooting narrowly wide of the left upright. 

The halftime whistle soon sounded, much to the relief of the outfit from the Nature Island. 

Arnett Gardens went into the break with a comfortable three-goal lead.

It was one-way traffic on resumption as the Jamaican outfit continued to dominate proceedings, and it took a timely interception from substitute goalkeeper Jaheem Cuffy to prevent Taylor from notching his second of the match. Roje Rohain Williams, a relative spectator up to this point, had to be alert to punch a headed attempt off of what was Dublanc FC’s first corner kick in the 58th minute. 

Moments later, Smith thought he had his hat trick, but a last-ditch Marcus Bredas tackle kept the score line respectable.

Cuffy was again called into action in the 65’ and off his line to clear the danger as Taylor tried to race onto a through ball from Marlon Martin, pulling the strings in the Arnett Gardens midfield. 

Arnett Gardens FC should have stretched their lead even further in the 77, but Smith’s cross eluded both Taylor and Thompson with the goal at their mercy. The possession continued and forced Dublanc FC to get numbers behind the ball, to keep the rampant Arnett Garden FC attack at bay.

The fourth goal finally came courtesy of substitute Chantamoi Taylor in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Taylor collected neatly inside the penalty area before turning nicely to slot home to Cuffy’s right hand. That item capped off a dominant performance by the defending champions, running out 4-0 winners against Dublanc FC.