T&T start Olympic quest with 4-0 win.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago's Under 23 team began its quest for a place in the Beijing Olympics with a convincing 4-0 win over Guyana in CFU Olympic qualifying action at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium on Friday night.
T&T, under coaches Michael McComie and Jan Van Deinsen took a commanding 4-0 lead at half time and eventually came away with the three points.
Goals by W Connection striker Shane Calderon in the 3rd and 7th minutes were quickly followed by a third strike by Corneal Thomas in the 9th minute. T&T dominated against the Guyanese team that were shell shocked by T&T’s early barrage and the "Warriors" completed the rout on the stroke of half time through Simon Augustus.
T&T coach McComine was pleased with the opening win against a team which has Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz on its technical staff.
"It was a pleasing win. This is the first real competitive international game for this team so it's always good to get this kind of start. We went out there and took control from the start. I felt we could finished the game stronger though. We still have two more games to go and we will play each game on its merit," McComie said after the win.
T&T and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh goalie Kevin Mussio of had to come up big with three saves inside the opening ten minutes of the second half, Otherwise, T&T maintained control with a defense of Radanfah Abu Bakr, Corneal Thomas, Larry Bacchus and Akil Edwards ensuring nothing got through at the back. Skipper Calderon and Carlyle Mitchell carried the responsibilities up front. Midfielder Hayden Tinto also celebrated his 22nd birthday on Friday and was the live wire of the training session on Saturday morning having caught an iguana which had joined the players on the pitch. T&T next face the Netherlands Antilles on Sunday. The Antilles were facing Suriname in the second game of the double header later on Friday.
Trinidad & Tobago: - Kevin Mussio, Corneal Thomas (Devon Drayton 90th), Radanfah Abu Bakr, Larry Bacchus, Aklie Edwards, Christopher Sam, Keon Daniel, Marcelle Francois, Simeon Augustus, Carlyle Mitchell (Kendall Jagdeosingh 81st), Shane Calderon (capt).
Guyana: - Andrew Durant, Kelvin Smith, Devaughn Dummett, Dwain Jacobs, Dwight Peters, Konata Mannings, Edison Gomes (Quincy Madramootoo 67th), Javin Crawford (Calvion Sheppard 46th), Quacy Johnson, Vurlon Mills (Brian Baker 76th), Richard Joseph.
