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Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 winger Isaiah Hudson (centre) runs at the Turks and Caicos defence during Caribbean Cup qualifying action at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 17 June 2016. T&T won 11-0.... (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
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National Under 20 midfielder Isaiah Hudson’s goal in the final Group 2 match against St Lucia on Sunday pushed this country through to the final round of the Caribbean Football Union Under 20 Qualifying phase for the 2017 FIFA Under 20 World Cup.

The strike, a well executed and composed finish on a sweetly delivered cross by Jarred Dass, had all the making of a winning goal, in this case, it helped T&T to win the Group on goal difference over the St Lucians with the match finishing 1-1, both teams on seven points and T&T on a superior goal difference.

Hudson, of DirecTV W Connection and Naparima College, scored three goals over the three matches and though head coach Brian Williams later said he felt the player needed to show up more when they going got tougher during the games, there was a lot for the player to feel good about.

“I am happy with the fact that I got the goal that sent us through to the next round. It was an important goal and one which I will remember for a long time,” Hudson said.

“The experience of playing my first international under 20 tournament in front of the my home crowd was a learning but enjoyable one. We showed that we are capable of playing entertaining football and that we have potential to go onto better things.

“We still have a lot of work to do to get to a level that will be needed to compete with the best teams in CONCACAF but I think once we stay focused and we do the right things, then we should be looking ahead to more positive things from the team,” Hudson said.

The midfielder is also eligible to play for the T&T Under 17s which enters the final round of Caribbean qualifiers in T&T in September.