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Young Soca Warriors midfielder Kevin Molino, right, shrugs off the challenge of Mexico's Marco De La Mora during their CONCACAF Under- 20 Championship match at the Marvin Lee Stadium. ...Author: AZLAN MOHAMMED (Newsday).Some might wonder if Zoran Vranes' gamble paid off, or whether the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 head coach simply had nothing to lose.

Vranes either had no fear of Mexico or was confident his back-ups had what it took when he fielded a reserve team to tackle the Tricolor in a CONCACAF U-20 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium (MLS), Macoya.

His move might still prove fatal tonight when T&T take on Group A winners the United States at 7 p.m. in the second match of a semi-final double-header, which sees Honduras meeting Group B winners Costa Rica two hours earlier at the Marvin Lee Stadium.

Had Vranes fielded his full squad and won Group B, they would have faced Group A runners-up Honduras, who they beat 1-0 during a pre-tournament warm-up two weeks ago.

On Wednesday, team sheets had already been distributed when Serb Vranes changed his squad on securing automatic qualification to the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, to be played in Egypt from September 25-October 16.

Minutes before the late recasting of his line-up, Vranes watched Costa Rica guarantee their own World Cup spot with a 2-1 victory over Canada, which also ensured that T&T qualified by finishing at least second in Group B, regardless of what happened in their final preliminary match against the already eliminated Mexicans.

Following Costa Rica's victory, Vranes immediately removed starters Akeem Adams, captain Leston Paul and key midfielder Sean de Silva, who were all due to start against Mexico. Add suspended central defensive pair Robert Primus and Curtis Gonzales to the list, along with first-time starter Kevin Molino and Marvin Manswell, and Vranes was fielding a team minus seven of his regulars. The T&T head coach started Marvin Manswell, Aubrey David, Jean Luc Rochford (Joe Public), Uriah Bentick and Molino and also gave Juma Clarence, Nicholas Walker and Daniel Joseph a sweat.

However, Vranes' enthusiastic reserves passed the test comfortably in the end, when coming from two goals down at the half to draw level with Mexico.

And except for a coat of paint, Molino might have won it with an audicious lob over Mexican keeper Liborio Sanches which saw his shot crash off the crossbar.

Molino generally held the ball too long on the night, but he also come close to scoring in the 16th minute when striking the foot of the Mexican goal with a low shot from outside the penalty area.

United Petrotrin striker Clarence scored with his first touch of the ball in the 52nd when putting away's Manswell cut-back from the centre of the penalty area. And in the 60th defender Bentick blasted home a powerful free-kick from the top of the penalty area to send the fans into a frenzy.

Trinidad and Tobago started the better of the teams, but were behind after eight minutes, when Chivas de Guadalajara's Juan Ocampo found acres of space between the central defenders, ran in free on goal and beat keeper Glenroy Samuel with a dipping shot.

Antonio Salazar, another Chivas player, failed to add to Mexico's lead in the 36th when striking the ball wide with just Samuel to beat. But he made amends by putting Mexico 2-0 up on the stroke of half-time when taking a pass over the top and hitting low to Samuel's far post.

Mexico were reaping the rewards for some neat possession, but it all changed 45 minutes later.

The topic afterwards, of course, was Trinidad and Tobago qualifying for a third World Cup in four years, after the seniors in 2006 and the U-17s in 2007. Twelve of the players on the current Under-20 squad were also in South Korea for the 2007 U-17 World Cup, making them the most successful T&T youth team ever.

But are they the best? Probably not.

The U-20s certainly have been together longer than any other national team and have borne the fruit of continuity. Yes, continuity, a word often referred to by local officials, but rarely ever accomplished.

While the 2001 U-17 squad--who as hosts did not have to qualify-comprising Marvin Phillip, Kenwyne Jones, Roderick Anthony, Julius James, Michael Carrington and Nkosi Blackman were disbanded soon after, players on the current U-20 team have been together since the Caribbean Under-15 Championships under coach Ken Elie.

With coach Anton Corneal at the helm, they then qualified for the U-17 World Cup two years ago.

For pure talent, the 1983 Under-17 squad, comprising Russell Latapy, Clint Marcelle and Marvin Faustin, just shades Dwight Yorke's 1991 U-20 squad who included Anthony Sherwood, Angus Eve, Dean Pacheco, Richard Theodore, Clayton Ince and Michael McComie.

Latapy's team did not qualify, but they were chasing just one qualifying spot and only lost on penalties after holding the USA goalless.

For entertainment, look no further than the squad with Evans Wise, Joel Gibbon and Mickey Trotman, while the Olympic team with Trotman, Kevin Jeffrey, goalkeeper David Austin and Wise was also a good one.

The current bunch do not have all the talent of some of past teams, nor the entertainment value, but a little of everything. And, for consistency, they reign supreme.