Robert Bailey, Staff Reporter

Shandel Samuel racked up a five-timer as St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) mauled St. Lucia 8-0 at the National Stadium last night to secure one of two group D qualifying spots for the Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals.

Haiti, SVG and hosts Jamaica all ended with six points apiece.

However, Haiti (plus eight) ended with a superior goal difference to that of SVG and Jamaica, which ended with an identical plus five goal difference.

In yesterday's win, Andrew Douglas opened the SVG scoring in the 11th minute when he rifled a powerful right-footed shot past goalkeeper Giovanni Deterville courtesy of a left-sided cross from teammate Dexter Walker.

Samuel sent SVG further ahead in the 26th minute when he dribbled his way past two St. Lucian defenders to fire home from close range, before adding his second for a 3-0 margin that held through to the half.

On the resumption, SVG were all over their opponents and added a fourth through midfield maestro Wesley John's thunderous right-footer in the 51st minute.

Samuel completed his hat-trick five minutes later and got his fourth in the 76th minute with a well-taken volley.

Renson Haynes headed home his team's seventh goal in the 83rd minute and Samuel completed the rout with a header.

Zoran Vranes, coach of SVG, was very pleased with his team's performance.

He said: "This is a wonderful victory for my team today. I think the guys know what they had to do and they came out and did just that," he said ahead of the Jamaica-Haiti match.

Titus Elva, captain of St. Lucia, which lost all its games heavily said: "Our guys didn't prepare for a tournament like this. My team has only been together for two weeks and our coach is also a rookie coach, he does not take instructions from our senior players and this contributed to our downfall in this tournament."