Trinidad and Tobago finished strongly to take its unbeaten run to eight matches with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Barbados at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Sunday evening.
The 2,500 odd fans at the venue would have been anticipating more excitement for much of the second half after the buzz set about by the half time announcement of the England 31-man squad named by Fabio Capello for the upcoming friendly international. But they had to wait a while before cheering further after T&T didn’t set the stadium alight until the closing stages.
T&T looked the better of the two teams in the first half, enjoying the majority of possession and stroking the ball around confidently and purposely. Gay had the first try at goal in the 13th minute when his low left footer went inches wide. Two minutes later Khaleem Hyland’s shot was deflected wide and then Makan Hislop headed over. Kern Cupid also had his effort pushed out by custodian Adrian Chase as T&T pressed for the opener.
On the half hour mark Jerol Forbes also sent a powerful left footer goalwards from the edge of the box but Chase was up to the task.
The “Bajans” hustled around but there was hardly a threat on the T&T goal line until Jonathon Straker brought the best out of Marvin Phillip in the 31st minute. Straker rushed down the right and cut inside before unleashing a left footer which seemed heading for the left corner of the net only for a lunging Phillip to push out for a corner.
Gay then separated the teams four minutes before the interval. He followed up on an initial effort and had the goal all to his mercy, running closer to make sure with a tap in as Barbados were caught napping at the back. A minute later, Gay stole possession and almost added a second as he cut in from the left, beating Rondelle Vaughn in the process before firing a low effort towards Chase.
The second half didn’t offer much for either teams in the early stages with Barbados coming closer to hitting the mark after Anton Pierre missed an incoming left side ball but Marvin Phillip advance to stop the incoming shot by the Bajan forward. Walton Burrowes also went close but could only direct his effort wide of the right post from the centre of the box.
Some of the T&T legs were now evidently weary and Francisco Maturana made three changes on 65 minutes. The backline which included debutant Ancil Farrier, held steady but were allowing Barbados to get closer on goal as the minutes ticked on.
Down the stretch T&T came to life again. Gay whipped one over from the by line on the right and Jorsling met it well to head into the far corner for a 2-0 lead. And then Edwards, in the squad as a last minute replacement for the injured Akeem Adams, was on spot to nail a rebound after Jorsling’s effort came back out.
Teams
T&T: – 21.Marvin Phillip, 2.Kern Cupid (13.Kareem Smith 65th), 4.Makan Hislop (5.Keyeno Thomas 65th), 6.Anton Pierre (capt), 7.Khaleem Hyland, 12.Stephan David, 14.Jamal Gay (18.Akile Edwards 89th), 15.Ancil Farrier, 16.Kevon Carter (17.Ataullah Guerra), 18.Jerol Forbes (11.Devon Jorsling 65th), 19.Keon Daniel.
Subs not used: – Glenroy Samuel, Romauld Aguillera.
Barbados: – 1.Adrian Chase, 2.Dyson James, 3.Jonathon Straker, 7.Rondelle Vaughn, 8.Malcolm Marshall (15.Arantees Lawrence 75th), 10.Norman Forde (capt), 11.Kieran Crichlow, 12.Greg Belle, 13.Bryan Neblett, 14.Walton Burrowes (9.Madalitso Mkoloma 66th), 17.John Parris.
Subs not used: – 4.Brent Carrington, 5.Omar Archer, 6.Barry Skeete, 18.Omari Eastmond.