Soca Warriors 1 vs Martinique 1 in Nations League.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).A 65th-minute penalty from Joevin Jones ensured that T&T's Soca Warriors shared the points with Martinique in their opening match of the CONCACAF Nations League at the Stade Pierre Aliker Stadium in Martinique on Friday night.
The Soca Warriors, wounded after a 1-0 loss to St Vincent and the Grenadines recently, appeared strengthened by the recruitment of speedy Canadian-based midfielder Ryan Telfer who was on debut. But in the first half though, they could not stop the home team from taking the advantage, following a period of dominance in possession in the 40th minute. From a left side corner, Cyril Mandouki benefitted from a deflected effort that fell nicely in his path, to fire past goalkeeper Marvin Philip for a 1-0 lead.
And despite relentless attacks in the moments that followed, the home team could only maintain their advantage at the half-time interval.
After the break, the home team sought to continue their dominance early, and it was only a desperate clearance by Daneil Cyrus from a Stephone Aboul right-side cross reaching the dangerous legs of goalscorer Mandouki in the area. Later in the 53rd minute, the home team should have increased their advantage.
This time Aboul, put through on the right side, delivered perfectly for Yann Thiman to fire an uncontrolled shot over the crossbar.
But Dennis Lawrence's men came to life in the 59th minute, when Kevin Molino and Marcus Joseph exchanged passes on the right side, and the latter with a clear shot at goal, turned it wide of the post.
Telfer, however, was the architect of the T&T equalizer from the penalty spot. The midfielder exhibited blinding speed to get past his marker down the right flank, before releasing to Sheldon Bateau inside the area. But before Bateau could have gotten an attempt at goal, defender Ambroise Felicitet stormed in to sweep his legs from under him, causing the referee to point to the penalty spot.
Joevin Jones then stepped up and beat Loc Chouvet in the Martinique goal for the equalizer.
Telfer with another surging run down the left side was hacked down in the area a second time in the 70th minute, but this time the referee waved play-on.
In time added on, Martinique almost clinched the win when Romario Barthelery turned nicely in the box from a feed by Arnaud Huygues, but his curling left-footer crashed against Phillip's upright, before going to the safety.
TeamsTrinidad & Tobago: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK); 2.Aubrey David, 4.Sheldon Bateau (capt), 5.Daneil Cyrus, 17.Ross Russell Jr (16.Alvin Jones 71), 19.Kevan George, 23.Leston Paul, 3.Joevin Jones (11.Levi Garcia 71), 10.Kevin Molino, 7.Ryan Telfer (20.Jomal Williams 76), 15.Marcus Joseph,
Unused substitutes: 21.Glenroy Samuel (GK), 22.Adrian Foncette (GK), 6.Keston Julien, 8.Andre Fortune Jr, 9.Jameel Perry, 12.Carlyle Mitchell, 13.Judah Garcia, 14.Daniel Carr, 18.Nathaniel Garcia.
Coach: Dennis Lawrence.
Martinique: 1.Loic Chauvet (GK); 22.Romario Barthelery, 3.Ambroise Felicitet, 21.Sebastien Cretinor (captain), 2.Yordan Thimon; 19.Daniel Herelle, 15.Cyril Mandouki (5.Karl Vitulin 78); 10.Julio Donisa (6.Thierry Catherine 84), 12.Johnny Marajo, 20.Stephane Abaul, 14.Yann Thimon (17.Montabord Rene-Charles 78).
Unused substitutes: 16.Amaud Des Etages (GK), 23.Stephane Michalet (GK), 4.Gerald Dondon, 7.Andy Cesar, 8.Jordy Delem, 9.Marvin Bellance, 11.Andy Mamy, 13.Christof Jougon.
Coach: Mario Bocaly.
Highlights -
Relive the Joevin Jones’s penalty kick giving Trinidad the drawRELATED NEWSJoevin’s penalty earns T&T 1-1 draw in CNL opener.
TTFA Media.Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dennis Lawrence expressed some level of satisfaction with the efforts of his players as this country came away with a 1-1 draw against a tricky Martinique outfit in their opening match of CONCACAF Nations League qualifying in Fort-de-France on Friday night.
Canadian-based forward Ryan Telfer made his international debut for T&T as Lawrence gave him his first cap alongside India-based forward Marcus Joseph in the attack. It was Joseph though who found himself with the early opportunities to put T&T ahead but he mis-fired on the evening for the visitors.
A minute into the match, Joseph collected inside the box before turning and firing to goal but goalkeeper Loic Chauvet. Martinique settled into stride midway through the first half and once they did, they pressured T&T creating a couple proper chances to take the lead. Midfielder Stephane Abaul fired inches over bar on 22 minutes.
Telfer rose nicely to head from a right side cross by Leston Paul, forcing Chauvet to push around his left post. But after a goalmouth scramble in the T&T box, it was the homeside which drew first blood. T&T failed to handle a right side corner allowing the ball to fall to Julio Doniso whose close range blast deflected off Joevin Jones and France-born midfielder Cyril Mandouki slotted home in the 41st.
T&T regrouped and came again in the second half. Telfer was out the blocks early after a Martinique left sided corner was cleaned up at the back. T&T skipper Sheldon Bateau made the box to box run as Telfer flew down the right flank and played inside for the Belgium-based defender who was hacked down by defender Ambroise Felicitet. Jones converted the resulting penalty clinically to level the scores at one apiece in minute 63.
Moments later Telfer made another drive into the box, this time on the left and was bundled over again but Panamanian referee Jose Kellys waved play on.
T&T were pressed into their own half for the closing minutes as Martinique tried desperately to steal a late winner. Thierry Catherine effort struck the upright in added on time.
The “Warriors” will now look to secure three points when both teams meet again at the Hasely Crawford Stadium at 9:00pm on Monday. Tickets are available at NLCB outlets nationwide .
“I thought tonight we started the game very well. We had a couple changes early on which could have put us in a better position. We knew we would have to weather the storm a bit and see it out. The boys did absolutely remarkable to get themselves back into the game so I was really really pleased for the boys. Now it’s all about recovery and getting home to make sure we are ready for the for the next game on Monday,” Lawrence said.
“Once you are playing away from home you got to expect the opposition, they got the fans behind them and they will throw everything at you. Martinique started to grow in confidence once we let them off the hook after the first fifteen minutes because I thought we should have scored. They grew in confidence and started to take control of the game and we had to weather the storm. But I’m pleased with the boys and the effort they gave in the end to get something from the game,” Lawrence added.