T&T get second win in Olympic qualifiers.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic team secured its second consecutive win in Group A Caribbean Football Union Olympic qualifying action with a hardfought 3-0 victory over the Netherlands Antilles at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Following their convincing 4-0 win over Guyana on Friday, T&T, despite an early 11th minute goal from Carlyle Mitchell, had to stretch further for the win this time around against a stubborn Antilles outfit.
Mitchell converted from close range in the 12th from an incoming corner and T&T managed a series of other attempts on goal but poor finishing saw the score remain 1-0 at the break.
The Antilles came back out sensing something on the cards but T&T held firm in defense resisting anything that came from the opponents. Then substitute Hayden Tinto, who replaced Christopher Sam in the 61st minute, came up with an assist on T&T's second goal. He set up midfielder Simeon Augustus for the second goal in the 61st. Shane Calderon added a third goal eight minutes from time.
Defender Corneal Thomas was replaced by Devon Drayton in the 37th minute following an ankle injury which forced him to be taken to hospital for an x-ray.
T&T coach Michael McComie added that T&T received its first real test of the campaign.
"It was a much tougher game for us this time. Even though we got the early goal, the Netherlands kept to their task and they fought on. We had several chances to increase the lead in the first half. In saying that, the boys did the job and came away with the three points which is the most important thing at this stage. We have one more game against the host nation and our aim is to come away with maximum points again," McComie told TTFF Media after the win.
The winner of Group A will join five other Caribbean quadrangular victors in the second round that consists of two three-team groups scheduled to play off in October 2007. The top finishers in each triangular group will progress to the 2008 CONCACAF U-23 Final Round Tournament. In the second game of Sunday's double header Guyana got past hosts Suriname 2-1.
Trinidad & Tobago: - Kevin Mussio, Corneal Thomas (Devon Drayton 37th), Aklie Edwards, Keon Daniel, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Larry Bacchus, Simeon Augustus, Marcelle Francois, Carlyle Mitchell (Kendall Jagdeosingh 68th) Christopher Sam (Hayden Tinto 61st), Shane Calderon (capt).
Netherlands Antilles: - Rowendy Sumter, Jonathan Molina, Gedeon Poppen, Eder Constancia, Luigison Doran, Shayron Anatatia (capt), Joel Victoria (Ray Winklaar 46th), Michael Rijna (Ashar Bernardus 72nd), Kenneth Kunst, Gersinio Constansia (Raychenald Raap 72nd), Rilove Janga.
