A final minute goal by second half substitute Cornell Glen ensured that this country’s National Senior Footballers didn’t leave their first encounter without something to show on Saturday morning.
The hosts included some five players from their first team starting eleven and a few other reserve players but their approach was professional and they provided a good enough test for Maturana’s men at this stage of the warm-up tour before El Salvador next month.
Russell Latapy was among the starters for T&T which included midfielder Trent Noel, Clyde Leon, Errol McFarlane, Anthony Wolfe, Kevaughn Connell, Makan Hislop, Aklie Edwards, Akeil Guevera, Keyeno Thomas and Marvin Phillip.
Both teams had a slow build up after the opening whistle but it wasn’t long before T&T settled and began to assert themselves. Latapy brought some “ooohs” from the 50 or so onlookers when his right footer from just outside the 18 yard box had goalkeeper Diego Quiros scrambling to his left to push out for a corner on seven minutes.
Six minutes later, another good build up in the middle of the pitch with Connell and Latapy involved led to the latter playing one short to Leon whose right footed crack from 20 metres out cannoned off the cross bar but had too much on it for an onrushing McFarlane to connect properly with the rebound.
Juniors, one of the early clubs of Diego Maradona and also past team of Juan Riquelme snd Sergio Batista, were organized and disciplined, not allowing T&T to dominate by any means. And they almost stole the lead on 20 minutes when Gaston Ada’s snap shot was deflected inches over bar.
T&T continued to push forward in attack in the second half. By then, Latapy, Noel, Guevera, Connell and Phillip were out with Densill Theobald, Andrei Pacheco, Seon Power, Kendall Jagdeosingh and Jan Michael Williams entering the action.
Hislop, who along with Thomas was ensuring things were steady at the back, had an ambitious effort on the bounce from 30 metres out on the right superbly pushed over bar by the ‘keeper.
On 64 minutes, Jagdeosingh, impressing with his quick surges, met one from Wolfe and crossed inside for McFarlane to head straight to Quiros.
As the game approached its end, the hosts got what they thought was the winner. A break down in the midfield allowed substitute Gerardo Gordino to run through on the left and lob the ball over the advancing Williams.
T&T, totally undeserving of a 1-0 loss, made sure that wasn’t the case moments later. The lively Jagdeosingh pushed his way forward on an inside right position,and with his shirt being tugged in the process, he managed to square for Glen who wasted no time before slapping home with his right foot from close range for the equalizer.
Maturana: Good exercise for us
Head Coach Francisco Maturana afterwards said he was satisfied with the display of his players in the 1-1 draw. Assistant Coach Latapy also thought T&T showed positive signs against a team “that was well structured and was able to play some good football which was what we wanted on the day.”
Maturana added that the result was of little significance.
“The result doesn’t matter but of course you never want to lose and I was pleased that the players showed that losing was not for them,” Maturana told TTFF Media. “I think it was a good start because for all the players it’s the first game in a few weeks for them but we were very good physically and the players are showing a better understanding on how to carry out their roles and play organized (football).”
Juniors Technical Director Fabian De Sarasgueda also welcomed the exercise.
“For us it’s very good to be playing the National Team of Trinidad and Tobago because we are preparing for the start of our season. The game was played at a good pace and both teams were technically and physically good. I don’t know much about the teams that Trinidad has to play in the World Cup elimination but I would say that they were a good team today and should be in good hands. I wish them well in their quest for the World Cup in 2010,” De Sarasqueda said.
The team was scheduled to have a follow up training session at 7pm on Saturday and will continue their preparations on Sunday with another double session.