SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS, Dominican Republic — In a pulsating Caribbean night at Estadio Cibao, Weymouth Wales crafted a result that will reverberate across the region: a 2-1 triumph over Juventus de Cayes that threw Group B of the 2025 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup wide open and, perhaps, signaled the waning of Haiti’s club dominance.

For decades, the script of Caribbean club football has featured protagonists from Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Barbados, represented here by Weymouth Wales, has typically filled the role of valiant participant rather than scene-stealer. But on Friday, the Welshmen overturned history, outfought Juventus—the undefeated kings of Haiti’s 2025 D1 Special Championship—to record one of the most consequential upsets of the group stage so far.

Quiet Authority, Daring Ambition

There was little about Weymouth Wales’ squad list or domestic standing (as CFU Club Shield runners-up) to sway pre-match predictions their way. Few gave credence to the notion they could outmaneuver a Juventus side steeped in experience and buoyed by a nation’s footballing tradition. Yet, it was precisely this anonymity, this lack of pressure, that allowed Wales to play with a verve and directness missing from their more illustrious counterparts.

Manager Donovan Harper, in his pre-game remarks, spoke of “paying respect to the badge,” but on the night, his side delivered a lesson in controlled, purposeful aggression that left Juventus scrambling for answers.

First Half: A Chess Match Explodes into Life

Both sides began cautiously. Juventus, marshaled by their captain Jean-Daniel Pierre, sought to dominate possession, probing the flanks through wingers Pierre-Louis and Nerlin Metayer. Wales, compact in defense and patient in midfield, absorbed early pressure and looked to unleash their dynamic forward line on the counter.

The match’s turning point arrived in the 28th minute. A rapid transition saw Wales’ Omani Griffith slip in behind the Juventus defense, only to be brought down by goalkeeper Morisset. The referee, unmoved by protests, pointed to the spot. Up stepped Griffith, dispatching his penalty high into the net, sending the visiting supporters into rapture.

Juventus, stung into action, nearly conjured a response as Pierre-Louis rattled the crossbar minutes later. Yet, Wales refused to cave, their midfield duo of Leroy Millar and Dario Rampersad snapping at heels and denying Juventus time to settle.

Second Half: High Drama and Heroic Defending

The interval brought no change in Wales’ intensity. Within ten minutes, their pressure yielded dividends. Off a clever short-corner routine, left back Jamar Springer found space and curled a teasing ball into the box, met by a thunderous header from defender Kadeem Atkins—2-0. Juventus’ shock was palpable; the crowd in Santiago felt it too, as the underdogs threatened to run riot.

Juventus responded with urgency. Coach Patrick Nerette turned to his bench, introducing striker Peterson Joseph. Gradually, the Haitians found their rhythm. The 72nd minute saw Joseph bundled over in the area; Pierre confidently beat Wales keeper Doyle Graham from the spot to halve the deficit.

The dying stages were a frenzy of Juventus attacks: shots blocked, crosses cleared, tempers frayed. Goalkeeper Graham produced a spectacular fingertip save to deny a goalbound free-kick in stoppage time, a moment emblematic of Wales’ resolve.

The Broader Implications: Changing of the Guard?

More than three points were at stake in this encounter. For Juventus, defeat raises uncomfortable questions about the sustainability of Haiti’s club model—still resourceful, still competitive, but perhaps now vulnerable to new, more modern approaches seen across the region.

For Weymouth Wales, the win propels them into serious contention for a knockout place in Group B, and potentially, qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup’s opening stages in 2026. Their transformation from hopeful qualifiers to genuine tournament disruptors is the story of this Caribbean Cup’s group phase so far.

Player Performances: Legacy Building and New Beginnings

• Omani Griffith: The striker’s poise from the penalty spot and tireless running set the tone. He bullied defenders, opened space for teammates, and deserves plaudits as Wales’ attacking heartbeat.
• Kadeem Atkins: His goal—a towering header—was the product of both desire and organization, but he shone just as brightly marshaling a defense that bent without breaking.
• Doyle Graham: The last word must go to the keeper. His reflexes and command in the box frustrated Juventus and protected Wales’ lead at the most anxious moments.

On the other side, Juventus will rue missed opportunities. Pierre-Louis tormented defenders but found woodwork instead of net, while Pierre’s midfield control faded as the match became increasingly stretched.

What’s Next: All to Play For

Group B, featuring Dominican champions Cibao FC and Jamaican power Cavalier, will likely remain in flux through the closing weeks. For Juventus, the margin for error has evaporated. Their pathway to the semifinals—and next season’s continental showpiece—now requires not only victories, but perhaps help from elsewhere.

Weymouth Wales, by contrast, have earned more than admiration. With confidence surging, their next fixtures take on new significance: not simply as hopefuls, but as a squad—and perhaps, a footballing nation—insisting on its place at the region’s top table. For Barbados football, long consigned to the margins, tonight may go down as the beginning of the end for underdog status.

In the Words of Welsh Manager Donovan Harper

“As far as we’re concerned, we’re not here just to participate,” Harper said after the final whistle. “We respect Juventus, but we respect ourselves more. If people think tonight was an accident, they’d better think again.”

Tonight, the Caribbean Cup’s so-called minnows became its headline act. Football’s landscape, at least for one night, was upended by a team no one saw coming—and that, finally, is what makes this tournament matter.

Reporting was contributed from Santiago de los Caballeros by local correspondents.