Roger Salnot, head coach of Digicel Caribbean Championship third place finishers Guadeloupe, says he is quite happy with their accomplishment.

Guadeloupe won 5-4 on penalties, as the game ended 0-0. No extra time was played as it would've overlapped into the starting time for the final.

"We are happy for third place and the first objective, which was to qualify for the Gold Cup," said Salnot. "The next step is to get ready for the Gold Cup and hopefully put together a team that will be more competitive than how we performed here. We have more players in France and back in Guadeloupe and plan to use them.

Their goalkeeper, Franck Grandel, was overjoyed and picked up the best goalkeeper award.

"We are very, very happy for the victory. The most important thing for the team was to win the game and it was for me to play my role in the goal," said Grandel."We were very confident about it (penalties). Our technique is good as we have been practising. Everybody backed everyone.

"I want to find myself a club first and then concentrate on the Gold Cup. This title of the best goalkeeper in the tournament is an inspiration for me and my hope is to build on it in years to come."

Close match

Cuba's coach, Raul Gonzalez Triana, called the loss 'unfortunate'.

"It was a close match. It's unfortunate that for the second time in three days we were losing on penalties. But that is how it goes," Triana said. "We are, nonetheless, proud of the efforts of the guys and will be turning our attention to the Gold Cup, where we hope to repre-sent our country well."

Guadeloupe earned US$50,000 for the placing, while fourth-placed Cuba got $30,000.