ARIMA, Trinidad (July 26, 2025)—SV Britannia of Aruba and Paradise FC International of Grenada fought to a 1-1 draw in a Group B match of the 2025 CFU Club Shield on Saturday. Playing at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Trinidad, the encounter started as a cagey affair with minimal goalmouth action.

The first shot of the game came from Venezuelan import Richard De Sousa in the third minute. But the SV Britannia forward had his effort parried away by Jeremy Richardson for a corner kick. 

The Aruban outfit continued to dominate possession but were kept at bay by a well-organized Paradise FC International defence. 

Sebastian Montoya got in behind the Paradise defense in the 19th minute, but he shot harmlessly wide of goal.  De Sousa threatened again soon after, but Richardson moved swiftly off his line to expertly pick a pinpoint cross off the head of the forward.

The cooling break saw Paradise International grow into the game, and Josthan Maduro was called into action twice in quick succession to claim dangerous crosses into the penalty area, keeping the Paradise FC International attack at bay. Meanwhile, SV Britannia skipper Stiven Melchor came close to giving his team the lead in the 31st minute, but his low free-kick went slightly wide.  Montoya’s tame header failed to trouble Richardson moments later, and the Aruban team’s frustration was starting to show.

Frustrations were compounded in the 35th when Keston Williams raced onto a Joshua Isaac pass and made no mistake with his finish to give the team from the Spice Island a lead against the run of play. 

The Paradise FC International skipper dropped into midfield and found Williams with a wonderfully weighted pass. Williams expertly lifted the ball past the advancing Maduro.

Buoyed by their opening goal, Paradise FC International intensified the pressure, and Isaac was in the thick of things in minute 43. The imposing forward found himself unmarked at the back post but couldn’t keep his header on frame. 

Paradise FC International was almost caught out on the stroke of halftime. But Ashton Charles failed to find the equalizer after ghosting in behind the Paradise defence, heading straight into the arms of Robinson. 

Paradise FC International went into the halftime interval with a slim 1-goal lead.

On resumption, the Grenadian outfit started the brighter of the two teams, and Isaac should have doubled his team’s lead in the 49th minute.  The forward blazed his shot over the crossbar after an initial shot was blocked and fell invitingly at his feet.  The Grenadian skipper was denied twice in quick succession in the 53rd minute, with Maduro diving smartly to his left to save a curling free-kick and then the cross bar coming to his rescue as Isaac’s header on the ensuing corner came back off the cross bar.

De Sousa was poised to draw his team level in the 64th minute. but he lost his footing at the last minute and skied his effort only a few meters from goal after brilliant counter-attacking play had caught the Paradise FC International defense flat-footed. 

Chasing the game, SV Britannia coach Renier Paraez rang in the changes, and it was one of those substitutes who grabbed the equalizer in minute 67.  Reangelo Boekhoudt capitalized on a moment of hesitation by the Robinson to charge down his clearance and reacted quickly to head into a gaping goal.

Paradise FC International survived a goalmouth scramble moments later, and Stiven Melchor blasted a close-range effort over the bar after DeSousa’s shot was blocked. Isaac kept his team threatening with good hold-up play and intelligent passing, and his 80’ flick on found his strike partner in stride, but the winger shot wide from close range.

Both teams continued to fight tooth and nail for the winning goal, but to no avail. The referee brought the match to an end after a few minutes of second-half stoppage time with both teams having a share of the spoils