Guadeloupe denies T&T U-20s a victory

 Guadeloupe, whom, is also preparing for the men’s Caribbean Cup qualifiers at senior level is coming off an impressive 3-0 victory over a Tobago Eleven but could only muster-up a measly 1-1 tie with the Junior Warriors to end off their Tobago mini-tour a bit disappointed however, undefeated.

Central FC's new 2014 signee Levi Garcia opened the scoring for T&T in the 41st minute before Guadeloupe's substitute striker Lodovic Piqueur 81st minute spoiler which denied the talented T&T side their first ever victory at this level.

The Under 20 side has been impressive with their preparations thus far coming off with convincing victories over Pro League outfits; St Ann's Rangers (4-0), W Connection (2-0), Central FC (1-0), Club Sando (4-0) and North East Stars (2-1).

Head coach Derek King told the Soca Warriors Online (SWO) after the match that; "The team were organized. They played some good football against a senior Guadeloupe team who were also organized and disciplined."

"Levi Garcia scored a very good goal. The experience was a good one for this young team. The guys really gave their 100% and we really couldn't have asked for more."

"Levi Garcia, Kadeem Corbin, Naveal Hackshaw, Jesus Perez, Kevon Goddard and Shannon Gomez showed maturity and were really on top of their game, I was very impress with them."

"The game came at the right time just before we head into the tournament. We need more games like this that will help benefit a team that is the future of T&T football, added King."

Meanwhile, T&T senior team head coach Stephen Hart also witnessed the match told the SWO that; "Being that this is their first international game the players performed with maturity. Three or four players certainly showed they have the potential to push for senior team selection."

"However, it's too soon to jump to conclusion. I will however, evaluate and continue to monitor their progress over the next few months, ended Hart."

 Results

Trinidad & Tobago  1  v  Guadeloupe  1
Levi Garcia 41  -  Lodovic Piqueur 81

Teams

T&T (5-3-1-1): - 21.Jan-Michael Williams; 2.Shannon Gomez, 3.Martieon Watson, 4.Jesus Perez, 5.Maurice Ford, 8.Naveal Hackshaw (6.Kevon Goddard 84th); 11.Levi Garcia (19.Nicholas Dillon 76th), 20.Leston Paul, 10.Andre Fortune (14.Matthew Woo-Ling 46th); 7.Akeem Garcia (12.Kishun Seecharan 69th), 9.Kadeem Corbin (24.Keron Boucher 56th). 

Unused Subs: - 1.Javon Sample (GK); 13.Josiah Trimmingham, 15.Aikim Andrews, 16.Keon Joseph, 17.Akeem Humphrey, 18.Jabari Mitchell, 23.Kegan Bacchus.

COACH: - Derek King.

Guadeloupe (4-4-2): - 1.Mickael Germain; 2.Mike Lubino, 15.Jérémy Sennoaj, 4.Félix Siar, 19.Mamuel Serman; 6.Willis Francillone, 11.Gilles Dan, 14.Fabien Beral, 18.Neil Roche; 10.Marc Arbau, 8.Rudy Vouteau.

Subs From: - 23.Cédric Celigny (GK), 16.Cédric Julan (GK); 3.Sylvain Philippe, 9.Lodovic Gotin, 12.Marvick Annerose, 13.Colman Makouke, 17.Lodovic Piqueur, 21.Cédric Vamur, 22.Edwing Malpon.

COACH: - Steve Bizasene.

Referee: - Neil Brizan.

Venue: - Dwight Yorke Stadium.

Attendance: - 1,100 (APPROX).

Copyrights of the Soca Warriors Online - Any press using the following article (above) written by Inshan Mohammed are welcome to do so providing they reveal the source and writer. Furthermore, no portion of this article may be copied without proper credit as well.

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U-20s draw with Guadeloupe.
By Ian Prescott (Express).

Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-20 footballers look sharp and ready for competition, and were more than a match for the Guadeloupe senior national team, who they held to a 1-1 draw in a friendly international yesterday at Dwight Yorke Stadium.

The young Soca Warriors team led for most of the match until a defensive lapse gave Guadeloupe an equaliser just under nine minutes from the end.

But, it took a couple of acrobatic saves from veteran Guadeloupe goalkeeper Mikael Germain to preserve a draw for the French side. As the T&T youngsters turned up the pressure late, Germain dived fast and low to turn away a rocket shot from Kishun Seecharan, while T&T’s Kevon Goddard beat four defenders, but the goalie got a touch to end his meandering run.

Containing just a couple of senior players in keeper Jan-Michael Williams and Central FC midfielder Leston Paul, the mainly Under-20 T&T team matched Guadeloupe solidly. Coached by Derek King and Dale Saunders, the U-20s will go into action against Curacao on Friday when T&T host the final round of Caribbean qualifiers for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

For long periods, the T&T national youth looked on par with their Guadeloupe seniors. Akeem Garcia was very penatrative up the left flank, as was Levi Garcia on the other, while Paul was solid in the middle. Guadeloupe provided some problems with the ball over the top, but the defence, held together by Jesus Perez in the centre, mostly withstood the pressure.

Central FC midfielder Garcia gave T&T a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute. Cutting inside past defender Jeremy Sennoaj, Garcia drove a sweet left-footer goalwards that beat acrobatic Guadeloupe keeper Germain at his near post.

Both teams had missed at least one excellent scoring chance before then. Guadeloupe striker Gilles Dan had T&T goalie Williams at his mercy and looked set to score when a cross from the right picked him out. But the T&T custodian did enough to rush the striker who turned the ball over the goal. And before the first half ended, overlapping T&T defender Martieon Watson also had a wicked shot on goal, but a flying Germain touched it over the goal.

Although Williams pulled out a couple of saves when Guadeloupe substitute striker Ludovic Gotin pierced his defence a few times, T&T looked far the more likely to win the game. It was only until a woeful defensive lapse left Williams totally exposed, that Guadeloupe substitute Ludovic Piquer was able to poke the ball into the net for an 81st minute equalizer.