It is with mixed feelings that I write this report and while I am devastated that our WC campaign has come to a close, it also brings a sense of relief.....The suffering and heart attacks are over and we have reaped what we have sown.
Again I am also upset that we had this game to win and handsomely. If only Kenwyne and Glen could put the ball in the net. If only Noels free kick wasn't saved and if only had Latapy made the correct subs.
But even though we lost I was pleased in what I saw...a fighting performance by the team and we actually looked like a side. You could not fault men for not trying and the fight was visible for some and fading for others. But as a team they came up trumps tonight.
Why couldnt we play like this from the get go? Had we done so we would have been on our way to SA.
I arrived in the stadium around 6 pm and there were very few people around. Parking was easy, no line at the gate and I walked straight in not bothering with the freebies and rags.
Getting a good seat I sat with the rest of the WN crew and took in the entertainment that was provided.
The TTFF real real try and for the few thousand that came out or rather the few hundred who were in the stadium at the time......we were treated to the Malick folk performers, some Moko Jumbie performers, the Carib girls, Super Blue, Maximus Dan and JW and Blaze from 96.7
The teams then came on the field and started to warm up. The Yanks looking bigger than their T&T counterparts and their warm up was structured and a bit more intense.
TT seemed a bit laid back but I just say lemme take in the scenes and not get vex.
It was then I saw the USA goalies warming up, wrapping up bullet and making saves. Then the USA midfielders and fwds practiced their finishing....I looked on the other side of the pitch and watched the warrior warm up and just shook my head.
It was here I got a headache, got vex and went downstairs for a guiness and some KFC.
Folks we have Ince in the goal and Yorke and another trainer has the fwds and midfielders in a line bouncing a ball to them or passing with no pressure and they are running into the box lazy lazy and shooting to goal.
NOT ONE MAN SCORE!!!
I watch Jah Goal and he and patriot both confirm what i saw...and is not even hard luck is over bars and wide and ince ent event stretchin to make a save.
When I look back on the other side of the field is bullet pinging and howard sprawling.
I steups and went downstairs and jib until I hear the team being announced.
The USA come with a bomb squad...we pick the best we could under the circumstances and I was in my glee that Keon ent start.
Tweet whistle blow and to my surprise T&T taking it to the US.
It was the best football T&T has played since Germany 06.
We had the US under manners and the defence in the first half with the exception of Spann was solid.
Spann was shakey throughout but his mistakes did not cost us any goals and if he made a mistake he would try and recover.
Jlloyd was a Boss...Solid in every way and nuttin pass him. Composure and a class act. Its a shame he wasn't with us earlier.
Bakr had a good game he improve and he was composed.
Dennis also handled his stories well
T&T' 4-4 2 was working and giving the US 4-3-3 problems.
They had little response to Tinto and Carlos on the flanks and it was the inability to cross the ball by both these men that let the USa off the hook.
Carlos was disappointing in his deliveries but he did everything else superb, running with and without the ball, recovering, tracking back, taking it to defenders.
Trent and Leon worked hard and I found they were effective in closing space, breaking up plays and trying to distribute.
Trent was also showing flashes of skill, his passing range and his ball winning ability.
T&T had the majority of possession, the run of play and just couldnt convert.
Jones with the powder puff header and miscued shots, glenn with a chip off the bar, trent with a curling freekick and Howard Saving.
But all the time the US showed composure and counter attack threats and we were fortunate on occasion.
With at least 4-5 goal opportunities and the score 0-0 at the half and T&T in a zone. I said to myself...this is too good to be true. So frustrated were the US players they nearly fought amongst themselves at half time and some of them had to be restrained by their own officials before walking into the tunnel.
and then it happened...
The magic dust ran out, the gas was gone, luck deserted us and then out of the blue we collect a bullet from 30 yards just so.
We never recovered, the heads dropped and Latapy takes off the biggest attacking threat in tinto to put on Daniel....well the whole of grounds start to cuss.
Kenwyne got his fair portion too and try as he might it just wasnt working for him.
Then USA kicked it up a gear, started to run at us, subs started to be made and Spann was under pressure.
Latapy then saved spann from himself and took him off after a series of mistakes and Baptiste came on the center of the field. The formation changes to a 3-5-2. T&T allowing the US wingers to roam the flank but T&T crowding the middle hoping to deal with the crosses.
Needless to say this tactic was built for lash and we were lucky not to concede a few in this period. But yuh down, yuh hadda try something, yuh hadda push players fwd....buh what yuh bring orn and where yuh put them have people watching yuh and wondering.
Finally with a last roll of the dice he brought on Scotland for Noel but with 6 min to go this was just a corbeaux for Scotland to cool it.
I think Latas got all the subs wrong again...but given the personnel or lack thereof available I ent think he coulda do any more.
I really did not concentrate on this match after the goal scored on us...a good goal too...a wicked bullet from 30-25 yrd out and it was no fault of the defence, the middle could be faulted for not picking up quickly enough but players don't usually light it from there and score....Ince was beaten by a real beauty.
I zoned out and the old adage goals win matches just came into my head...over and over.
As the minutes wore on, T&T's legs grew tired, panic set in, composure out the window and then the lack of urgency started to show up. We started to play like if we on top, players strolling, taking their time, silly fouls happening and next ting you know we in injury time.
Tweet...final whistle and I was vex.
Vex we lost but at the same time satisfied with our performance and proud, knowing we were not embarrassed and we could compete and hold our own.
The what if, if only, If stern was there, if Jlloyd had come sooner, why they couldnt play so all the time.
But the walk down the stadium steps and these thoughts soon vanished as I spied a white short pants gyrating to the sounds booming from the carib truck in the courtyard.
Win , Lose or Draw we winein low and people looked to enjoy themselves and take a last jump, proud of the performance and also to just forget about this campaign.
Walking back to my ride the dejected ones muttered to themselves in the street. A elderly gentleman shouted at me to take off my Latapy jersey, how I should feel shame for wearing that, and how Latas do shit bringing on three big stone on the field when the side was running.
Latas was a great player and nuttin more...the old man shouted...take orf dat...throw dat way.
Ah yes only the passionate ones amongst us came out...but everybody tried, from the entertainment the sponsors and the team...they gave it their all but in the end we still werent good enough.
Till next time.