The old football adage “Goals win matches” continues to ring true as the Trinidad SSFL All Star team suffered a 2-1 defeat to their Jamaican Manning Cup counterparts at the St. George’s Ground in Kingston. The Manning Cup All Stars started using a 3-5-2 formation, while Coach Cooper of the Trinidad All Stars opted for a more conservative 5-3-2 formation.
The goal clearly rattled the Trinidad team who struggled to string consecutive passes together.
Jamaica dominated possession of the ball, but could not carve out any other clear cut opportunities as the defense was well marshaled by Akeem Adams, Robert Primus, Sheldon Bateau and Sherrick Hilaire.
It took the Trinidad team nearly thirty minutes before they really troubled the Jamaica defense, with Neil Mitchell starting to make his presence felt with some deft dribbling. Marcus Joseph forced the Jamaican goalkeeper into a couple good saves as the Trinidad team gradually started to gain ascendency.
The half time whistle would have come as a relief to the Jamaican All Star team as the Trinidad All Stars kept attacking in waves.
Coach Cooper switched to a 4-4-2 formation in the second half as Trinidad went in search of the equalizing goal.
Jamaica seemed to show early signs of fatigue, as the SSFL all stars continued to take control of the match. Marcus Joseph and Mitchell seemed to combine well, but found the Jamaican defense and goalkeeper equal to the task.
In the 74th minute, against the run of play Jamaica doubled their lead. Yet another lapse in defensive concentration saw a Trinidad corner cleared up field to the lone Jamaican striker. Akeem Adams in the Trinidad backline should not have let the ball drop, but in doing so allowed the nippy Jamaican forward Jamal Spence outmuscle him and hit the ball off the far post past an outstretched Kareem Gray.
Credit must be given to the Trinidad players who never let their heads drop. Mitchell and Joseph continued to squander chances and frustration began to set in.
Just when it seemed as though the Trinidad All Stars would not get a goal, Marcus Joseph got the breakthrough in the 82nd minute when his speculative long ranged effort beat the Jamaican goalkeeper all ends up. Trinidad continued to press in search of the equalizer, but the physically stronger Jamaican unit did not cave in.
The game ended with the Jamaican Manning Cup All Star team winning by a 2-1 scoreline.
Coach Cooper who celebrated his birthday today was understandably disappointed, yet happy with the performance of the Trinidad team from the latter part of the first half onwards.
“We were unfortunate to not come away with something today. We had several opportunities and scored one. Jamaica had two half chances and converted them both. Overall I am not too disheartened by the result, because the boys got it together and put up a good show. We will definitely look for a more positive result on Wednesday.”
When asked about changes to the starting lineup for the return leg, Coach Cooper had this to say, “It will depend on the injuries. Isiah (Smith), Jamal Spencer and Neil Mitchell seemed to have felt the brunt of the physical Jamaican team. So it will depend on if they are match fit on Wednesday.”
T&T SSFL All Stars - Kareem Gray, Robert Primus (capt), Jerome Williams, Isiah Smith, Sherrick Hilaire, Sheldon Bateau, Akeem Adams, Marcus Joseph, Elijah Manners, Jamal Spencer, Neil Mitchell.
16