ALTHOUGH concerned about Cavalier FC’s recent struggles in front of goal, Head Coach Rudolph Speid says he’s confident the team can qualify for the semi-finals of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, after missing out last year.

The 2024 champions are unbeaten in their first two games of the group stage but have registered two goalless draws, including last Thursday against Dominican Republic (Dom Rep) champions Salcedo FC at the National Stadium.

Unlike in their opening game earlier this month away to another Dominican Republic club, Cibao FC, Cavalier created several goalscoring opportunities and had five shots on target but were unable to convert any of them.

The result leaves them third in Group B on two points, with Salcedo and Cibao — who beat Portmore United and Mount Pleasant Football Academy, respectively, in their opening games, both on four points — in the top two positions, which would guarantee them a spot in the last four of the tournament.

Cavalier are looking to avoid another early exit, having missed out on the knockout stages last year after finishing fourth in the group stage.

“I’m not happy any at all. We have a lot of work to do. I think we’re behind the eight ball now but we can’t give up. We still have opportunities to get to where we want to go,” said Speid.

Cavalier have been one the most potent offensive teams since the start of the competition in 2023. Prior to this season, Cavalier had scored in 11 of their 12 group stage games.

While pleased with his team’s defensive contributions so far, Speid is urging his attackers to step up to the plate if they’re to be challengers this year.

“Every year, Cavalier have been able to find one of those standout players that scores alot of goals. And we have a lot who can; we’re just searching for that person to get that mindset and put him in,” he said. “It’s not because we don’t have the abilities, we’re just waiting for that person. So until that happens we’ll do what we do best to make sure that people don’t score on us, and we’ll get through.”

“We have proven that the [clubs from the] second-best league in the Caribbean haven’t been able to score on us, so that’s some positive to work with.”

Cavalier, Mount Pleasant and Portmore will all return to action in the Caribbean Cup before the start of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season on September 6.

The St Ann-based Mount Pleasant will travel to Dom Rep to take on Salcedo at Estadio Moca on September 2 while Cavalier will host reigning local champions Portmore at the National Stadium on September 3, in a repeat of the JPL final in May.