Young Warriors swamp Aruba.
By: Joel Bailey (Newsday).[/size]
Stephen Knox scored a hat-trick as Trinidad and Tobago recovered from an early setback to maul Aruba 8-1 in a Group “B” match as the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Youth Cup kicked off yesterday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
In the tournament’s opening fixture, Guyana got the better of Grenada by a 2-0 margin, with goals from Manasseh Primo in the 38th minute and Kevon Beaton in the 52nd. In the feature match of the double-header Trinidad and Tobago asserted themselves straight from the kick-off, with the Aruban defence tested by the speed of Knox up front, with support from De Freitas on the right and Paul in the middle. But against the run of play, Aruba took the lead in the 16th minute, capitalising on slack TT defending.
Ersan Brokken collected a long clearance by his keeper David Lacle, sped down the right flank and, with no TT player in sight, found Markwin Ignacio who shot past a flat-footed Jesse Fullerton in the TT goal. The TT response was swift, emphatic and decisive, to the delight of the screaming fans estimated at 2,500.
In the 22nd, Akeem Adams raced down the left flank, skipped over the challenge of Brayn Quandt and crossed to Knox who slotted the ball home from six yards out.
Three minutes later, TT got their second as Paul intercepted a tame clearance from Lacle, released Daniel Joseph on the edge of the penalty box and Joseph, in turn, sent a pass to Knox who avoided the challenge Sven Da Silva before placing his left-footer past the advancing keeper. De Freitas got his name on the scoresheet in the 32nd, as he placed his left-footer beyond Lacle’s reach after collecting a cross on the left by Knox, who earlier blew past two defenders on his way to goal.
Injuries forced two changes subsequently, with persevering right-back Mark Rivers replaced by Shendon Bateau while hard-working defensive midfielder Brenton Balbosa made way for Chike Sullivan.
But there was no respite for Aruba, as Knox completed his hat-trick in the 65th, slamming his penalty to the keeper’s left after he had his shirt tucked, inside the box, by Da Silva. Trinidad and Tobago then doubled their tally with a quartet of goals in the space of eight minutes.
After De Freitas’ right-footer rebounded off the post and was cleared for a corner in the 72nd, Paul’s right-sided spot-kick was powerfully headed home by Ryan O’Neil.
Two minutes afterwards, Bateau made a run on the right and squared to Joseph, who missed everything, but substitute Daniel Cyrus’ right-footer was diverted into his own net by Da Silva.
Joseph, who missed an array of chances earlier, finally made amends in the 76th as he received a defence-splitting pass by Paul — easily the match’s best player— and slotted his right-footer beyond the advancing Lacle. And the goal-scoring bombardment ended in the 80th, as Cyrus got a through ball from Sullivan and, with the keeper helpless, sent his left-footer home, courtesy of a deflection by Francois Croes.
Teams:
Trinidad & Tobago
1.Jesse Fullerton (capt); 12.Robert Primus, 3.Ryan O’Neil, 2.Mark Rivers (4.Sheldon Bateau 41st), 13.Stephen Chang; 7.Brenton Balbosa (15.Chike Sullivan 46th), 5.Akeem Adams (22.Daniel Cyrus 63rd), 6.Leston Paul, 9.Chad De Freitas; 11.Daniel Joseph, 10.Stephen Knox.
Aruba:
1.David Lacle; 2.Ferdinand Robert (19.Cliff Gnecco 68th), 3.Francois Croes, 5.Sven Da Silva, 4.Brayn Quandt (15.Cristo Alcantara 55th); 8.Mayron Bayne, 6.Raymbert Bikker (capt), 7.Garcia Nunez, 11.Ersan Brokken; 9.Tumaini Taylor (14.Rauly Wiersma 30th), 10.Markwin Ignacio.
Results.
T&T 8 (Stephen Knox 22nd, 25th, 65th, Chad De Freitas 32nd, Ryan O’Neil 72nd, Daniel Cyrus 74th, 80th, Daniel Joseph 76th) v Aruba 1 (Markwin Ignacio 16th).
Guyana 2 v (Manasseh Primo 38th, Kevon Beaton 52nd) v Grenada 0.
Standings.
P W L D G A P
T&T 1 1 0 0 8 1 3
Guyana 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Grenada 1 0 1 0 0 2 0
Aruba 1 0 1 0 1 8 0
