U-20s beat El Salvador but exit.
T&T Newsday Reports.TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Under 20 footballers defeated El Salvador 2-1 yesterday but it was still not enough to qualify for the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Championships being held in Costa Rica.
The young Trinis, playing with their backs against the wall and needing victory to have a chance to qualify, took a 47th minute lead when skipper Jabari Mitchell took a pass near the edge of the penalty area, dribbled past one defender and smashed a left-footed shot past the El Salvador goalkeeper.
But a goal by the El Salvadorans temporarily dampened the T&T boys spirits.
They however rejuvenated themselves and Kathon St Hillaire was sent through the El Salvador defence in the 72nd and he drilled a first time right footer past the ‘keeper.
Despite their victory which put them on four points, TT were made to wait on the result of the game between hosts Costa Rica and Bermuda.
A draw or a win for Bermuda would have sent TT through along with El Salvador (six points) who topped the group. But Costa Rica, who found themselves trailing 0-1 early in the first half, drew level before the break and got the go-ahead goal after the interval to squeak through 2-1.
T&T drew their opening game with Bermuda 1-1 before losing 1-0 to Costa Rica on Thursday.
“This was by far our most positive game and result in the tournament so far and I am very pleased for the entire squad. They worked very hard for it and they went into this match with the right mindset and it showed out there on the pitch. They gave everything and got the just reward with the victory,” Head coach Brian Williams told TTFA Media.
“Now it’s for us to see if Bermuda can put on a strong performance and cause the upset against Costa Rica in the second match,” he added after T&T’s match.
Group C ResultsTrinidad and Tobago 2 (Jabari Mitchell 46, Kathon St Hillaire 71) v El Salvador 1 (Jose Contreras 49).
Costa Rica 2 (Tehvan Tyrell 43 Own-Goal, Randall Leal 50) v Bermuda 1 (Oneko Lowe 26).
El Salvador vs Trinidad & Tobago HighlightsTeamsTrinidad and Tobago: 20.Montel Joseph; 2.Isaiah Garcia, 5.Taryk Sampson, 4.Shane Sandy, 3.Kori Cupid; 8.Kierron Mason (11.Noah Powder 68), 13.Micah Lansiquot; 16.Rushawn Murphy (7.Morgan Bruce De Rouche 79), 10.Jabari Mitchell (capt), 14.Josh Toussaint (15.Kathon St Hillaire 71); 9.Nicholas Dillon.
Unused substitutes: 1.Denzil Smith (GK), 6.Simeon Bailey, 12.Joshua Sitney, 17.Stephon Marcano, 18.Joshua Leach, 19.Taofik Lucas Walker.
Coach: Brian Williams
El Salvador: 18.Alan Carrillo; 2.Oscar Menjivar (19.Josue Rivera 73), 3.Roberto Dominguez (capt), 4.Ronald Gomez; 16.Diego Chavez, 6.Diego Cartagena, 17.Walter Ayala, 20.Amilcar Bermudez; 11.Jonathan Aguilar (14.Marcos Rodriguez 14 [8.Hector Quinteros 62]), 10.Marvin Marquez, 12.Jose Contreras.
Unused substitutes: 1.Mario Gonzales (GK), 5.Josue Santos, 7.Kevin Reyes, 9.Brayan Paz, 13.Fernando Castillo, 15.Denilson Vidal.
Coach: Eduardo Lara.
Standings.P W D L F A PtsEl Salvador 3 2 0 1 5 3 6
Costa Rica 3 2 0 1 3 2 6
Trinidad and Tobago 3 1 1 1 3 3 4
Bermuda 3 0 1 2 3 6 1