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Honduras got a last minute winner to edge the Young “Soca Warriors” 2-1 in the third-place play-off at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championships at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna, yesterday.
Both teams, as well as finalists United States and Costa Rica, have all advanced to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt from September 24 to October 16.

Honduras, by virtue of their greater physical strength and stamina, were able to prevail in the earlier match of yesterday’s double-header finale — US and Costa Rica were meeting for the title last night.

Marcus Joseph, whose mother died following a long illness ahead of Friday’s semi-final defeat by the US, was given a start by national coach Zoran Vranes in a match which saw a subdued opening by both teams.

Right back Wilmer Casildo created the first chance for Honduras in the 20th minute, rounding defender Daneil Cyrus and squaring to Roger Rojas who shot wide.

But Rojas deservedly broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, intercepting a stray pass from Jean-Luc Rochford and thundering a 25-metre right footer to the left of the diving goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel.

Rojas could have netted his second shortly afterwards, after a feed from Ocampo, but sent his lob over the advancing keeper and over bar.

Honduras custodian Jose Mendoza was tested by a low drive from Kevin Molino, but was finally beaten by Qian Grovesnor, following a neat pass from strike partner Juma Clarence.

Samuel was alert to deny substitute Jose Valladares’ blast from ten metres out, but Honduras after a late flurry, got the winner from captain Reinieri Mayorquin. whose shot got a deflection from the back of defender Cyrus to beat Samuel.

Teams:

TRINIDAD and TOBAGO: Glenroy Samuel (capt); Daneil Cyrus, Uriah Bentick, Nicholas Walker, Akeem Adams (Robert Primus 46th), Sheldon Bateau (Aubrey David 73rd); Jean-Luc Rochford, Marcus Joseph, Kevin Molino; Qian Grovesnor, Juma Clarence (Daniel Joseph 68th).

HONDURAS: Jose Mendoza; Porfirio Boquin, Johnny Leveron, Wilmer Casildo, Angel Castro; Reinieri Mayorquin (capt), Erick Andino, Julio Ocampo (Antony Lozano 72nd), Alfredo Mejia; Roger Rojas (Mario Martinez 66th), Julio Canales (Jose Valladares 66th).
Tame end to U-20 tourney.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).


Costa Rica spank experimental US outfit.

If a punter walked into a betting shop and placed a substantial figure on Costa Rica defeating the United States in the CONCACAF 2009 Under-20 Championship, US coach Thomas Rongen might have been fielding police questions as we speak.

Not that there is the suggestion of match fixing regarding the Under-20 final, which Costa Rica won 3-0. But surely there was something not altogether sporting in Rongen's final team sheet on Sunday at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, and perhaps someone should have a word with the Netherlands-born coach.

The fact is that, leading up to the final, United States goalkeeper Brian Perk had not conceded once in four outings-including 30 minutes of extra time against Trinidad and Tobago, after which he saved two penalties-while Costa Rica, in the same period of time, managed just three goals.

Yet for the showcase match of the tournament, Rongen stuck Perk in the Macoya stands and dropped half his defence to boot-there were eight changes in total from the US team that squeezed past Trinidad and Tobago in Friday's semi-final.

Lest anyone think it was the young "Soca Warriors" who faced the easier roster, it is worth noting that the USA's semi-final line-up was consistent with the starting team which booked the North American outfit a place in the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Youth Championship.

For some reason, the CONCACAF trophy at stake did not appear to have the expected appeal for the US coach and confederation president and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner would be entitled to ask why.

"We made a lot of changes tonight to try to put ourselves in a situation to be successful, but also to look at some players under pressure," Rongen told the US press officer. "I'm disappointed in the loss but overall satisfied with the way we've played throughout the finals. Getting to Egypt was our primary goal here "

Only a few hundred people turned up to see Trinidad and Tobago unsuccessfully contest Honduras for third place on Sunday afternoon but the crowd trebled for the final contest.

To be fair to Rongen, there were no noticeable frowns at the final whistle. Trinidad and Tobago's history with the US on the football field is not especially pleasant and no one seemed averse to the North Americans being spanked on local soil.

The "Ticos" certainly did not mind as they matched their goal tally of three in 390 minutes with as many items in one exhilarating but one-sided match.

Aaron Maund-the Boston-born utility player who represented his father's homeland, Trinidad and Tobago, two years ago at the Under-17 World Cup but since had a change of heart-made his first start of the tournament in central defence but, on Sunday's evidence, had little to savour from his return to these shores.

The United States defence, unflappable for much of the competition, looked at sea to a Costa Rican outfit that was quick and ambitious but not nearly as formidable as they appeared in the final.

Fifty-four seconds into the contest, Costa Rica should have already been ahead as Marcos Urena steered a low cross from teammate and left winger Allen Guevara just wide at the far post.

As the US struggled to keep possession, they were constantly threatened on the break and Costa Rica inevitably scored, four minutes before the interval, as Diego Estrada dummied past Maund before beating the lead-footed US reserve goalkeeper Joshua Lambo at his near post.

The opening goal apart, Lambo was responsible for enough spills in the first 45 minutes to alert any credible environmental watch group. Rongen replaced the goalkeeper with Sean Johnson at the interval but it was not enough to check the growing Costa Rican enthusiasm.

Guevara was involved again in their second, 21 minutes after the break, as lone striker Josue Martinez collected, turned and smashed the ball into the far corner. And there were more red faces as Martinez doubled up with a clever headed finish after the US defence failed to cut out a long clearance from Costa Rican goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado.

If the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) does not ask Rongen what that was all about, maybe Warner should.
Young Warriors finish fourth.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).


A SWERVING shot from captain Reinieri Mayorquin from 20 metres out won Honduras a credible third place at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championships after narrowly defeating Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 yesterday evening at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

The teams were level at 1-1 and seemingly heading for extra-time until Mayorquin's stunning 90th minute strike from outside the penalty area, which deflected off T&T defender Daneil Cyrus and wrong-footed keeper Glenroy Samuel.

In the first half, Honduras had the better of a disjointed T&T team which again played minus starters Leston Paul, Sean De Silva and solid central defender Curtis Gonzales.

As a result, Honduran striker Rojer Rojas missed a hat-trick of chances in the first half, including two free headers in the penalty area.

Eventually, Rojas put Honduras ahead in the 48th minute when stripping defensive midfielder Jean Luc Rochford, who was trying to dribble around the penalty area, and driving a bullet past Samuel.

Honduras' lead lasted ten minutes as Trinidad and Tobago equalised in the 58th minute through striker Qian Grosvenor, who finally broke his duck in the qualifying tournament for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

And what a way to do it.

The St Anthony's College striker had shown a good touch throughout but struggled for his goal-scoring legs. But when he collected on the left side of the penalty area, there was no stopping his rocket as it flew across the airborne Honduras keeper and nestled inside the far corner.

"Que goalso? " exclaimed the Honduran radio announcer who was reporting the game live. And what a goal it was indeed.

Both teams went close to scoring soon after. In the 68th, T&T's Kevin Molino lobbed the ball from atop the penalty area and almost caught out Jose Menoza, the Honduran keeper.

In the 77th, Johnny Leveron had an even better chance when arriving free at T&T's back post, but hit his shot wide.

Later, substitute Jose Valladres thought he had given Honduras the winner in the 85th when knocking in the rebound after the Trinidad and Tobago keeper parried a hot drive from Mario Martinez into his path. However, Valladres was flagged for offside.

TEAMS:

HONDURAS: 12-Jose Menoza (GK), 2-Portifirio Boquin, 3-Angel Castro, 4-Wilmer Casildo, 8-Reinieri Mayorquin (C), 9-Julio Vanales, 10-Erick Andino, 11-Rojer Rojas, 16-Johnny Leveron, 18-Julio Ocampo, 20-Alfredo Valladres

SUBS: Jose Fonseca, 7-Mario Martinez, 13-Ronald Martin, 15-Anthony Lozano, 17-Erick Zepeda, 19-Jose Valladres, 1-Francisco Reyes (GK)


TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: 1-Glenroy Samuel (GK), 4-Sheldon Bateau, 5-Akeem Adams, 7-Kevin Molino, 9-Juma Clarence, 14-Jean Luc Rochford, 15-Uriah Bentick, 16-Marcus Joseph, 17-Nicholas Walker, 18-Daneil Cyrus, 19-Qian Grosvenor

SUBS: 2-Aubrey David, 3-Curtis Gonzales, 8-Sean De Silva, 6-Leston Paul, 10-Daniel Joseph, 13-Marvin Manswell, 20-Andre Marchan (GK)

Head coach: Zoran Vranes, assistant coach: Hutson Charles.
Costa Rica beats USA 3-0 to claim first CONCACAF U-20 Championship title since 1988.

CONCACAF.COM - MACOYA, Trinidad – Josue Martinez scored a pair of second-half goals to lead Costa Rica to its second CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, pacing a 3-0 victory over the United States on Sunday.

Martinez scored in the 69th and 80th minutes after Diego Estrada gave Costa Rica the lead in the 41st. It was the first goals allowed by the United States in its five games in the tournament. The Ticos, which had scored only three goals in its four previous games combined, won its first CONCACAF U-20 title since 1988.

This was the first time since 1996 that CONCACAF had staged the tournament in a single country to determine a champion.

Earlier Reinieri Mayorquin scored in the 90th minute to give Honduras a 2-1 win over host Tinidadad and Tobago and third place. All four teams which reached the semifinals had qualified for the U-20 World Cup in Egypt September 24-October 16 in Egypt.

The United States has qualified a CONCACAF record 12 times for the U-20 World Cup, but has never won the continental title.

Honduras’ victory caps a tournament in which it was the last nation to qualify in the eight-team field, claiming its place with a playoff victory over St. Vincent & the Grenadines four days before the opening kickoff.

After playing 120 goalless minutes before losing on penalties to Costa Rica in its semifinal on Friday, Honduras needed another 46 minutes to score against Trinidad. Roger Rojas scored his fourth goal in six games in the 46th minute, but the Young Warriors, who also lost on penalties Friday to the United States after a goalless draw, responded 12 minutes later with a goal by Qian Grosvenor.