mach report TT-1 JAM/referee - 1
What a game that was! The two big dogs of the caribbean squaring off to decide who is better than who.
First of all, Jack Warner missed a great opportunity. He missed a chance to reward some of the true supporters of the national team. I know that there are some die hards who missed this game, but still, I can guarantee you that no waggonists were at the marvin lee stadium (MLS).
I take some serious chain up from my pardner gary (who tallman once renamed "gary de baraini"...lol) and left south real early (missing the second half of portugal vs turkey) cause we "tort" that parking would be real trouble at the MLS. We reach up there about half past four and realise that we had made ah mistake.
The uncovered section was ah mess and we in time to see men still pounding nail on some plyboard to make benches (mobile stand my arse).....lol. After doing a thorough examination of the uncovered secion, Gary and I watch each other and swallowed a large gulp of saliva and decided to move to the covered section.
$300 of my hard earned cash straight into jack warner bank account and we inside. The turf look good, the covered section looked nice, the carib girl were dancing, the laventille rhythm section was jamming and the teams started to warm up on the field.
Bounce up dcs, g, Big Mag and Small Mag inside as the teams were announced.
Trinidad started with a 4-5-1. Ince in goal, Lawarence, Smith, Hislop and Adams at the back, Telesford, Hyland, Whitley, Daniel and Edwards in the middle and Scotland in front.
From the start I realise that Trinidad experimenting with Hyland on the left side, Edwards on the right, Whitley and Telesford holding and Daniel as the attacking midfielder.
The first 10-15 minutes of the game was nothing to talk about as the two teams looked evenly matched as they tried to knock the ball around.
As the game continued, we realised that Jamaica played with 12 men on the field. I aint care who vex, but that is the worst piece of blatant bias thiefery i ever see in my life. My goodness!!
Whitley get hack down by the half line, no card, 5 minutes later, Hislop tackle and get the ball and then the man, instant yellow. All the 50-50 calls were transformed into 90-10 calls in favor of the jammies.
All this against us and we still matching them stride for stride.
Bright sunshine in the sky and Gary (who i start tuh call robin maharaj) only talking about rain coming. But poor andre, who aint know much about the MLS, start tuh feel sorry for the people in the uncovered section.
Shrawwww, and the rain reach, but i realise that i getting wet. Yes folks is wet ah getting in de covered stands. The spartan in me come out and I start tuh bawl "hold de line, hold de line", but man start tuh run for cover.
Meanwhile, Mr Carlos 'starboy' Edwards was having a game to forget. Bad pass after bad pass and Ricardo Gardner have him under serious manners. He was the worst player on the pitch for us today.
Hyland and Whitley, on the other hand, were linking very well together. It was this combination (after hyland switched with Daniel) that gave TT our first goal. Nice passing on top the box left Hyland free and he calmly used his left foot to place the ball into the back of the net from just outside the box.
Wine and jam start, and everything on the carib girls was bouncing up and down. We had few anxious moments at the back with Marlon King using his strength to good effect on Hislop but the half ended up with us leading one nil.
Second half start and the warriors started to play a counter attacking game giving the jamaicans alot of possession. At times the jamaicans passed the ball well and if they got a shot off, and ince got close to it, (whether or not he touched it) it was a corner coutesy de thiefing referee.
It was this counter attacking game that made carlos look worse. I still waiting for him to take on a jamaican defender. Imagine he crossed the ball into the box to no one rather than going down the byline.
Due to their increased possession, the jamaicans were getting closer and closer to our goal, but ince was solid and marlon king was trying hard to mash up somebody car wind screen outside the stadium cause he only kicking the ball high and wide.
The warriors had chances too, with Hyland's left footed rocket going just wide. We also scored a legitmate second goal, but the referee called it offside even though it clearly wasnt!! But all in all we played too deep in the second half.
Lawerance also show dat he still have some soldier in him when Whitley get heself in some trouble with about 3 jamaicans who surrounded him.
Whitley start tuh get some small push, but Lawerance and he long legs jump in like ah super hero and start to push down jammys like if he was Whitley body guard.......lol.
It was however, a moment of brilliance from Hyland that "caused" the jamaican equalizer. Hyland got the ball from throw on the left side, screen the player like stern john, hit him ah stern turn and speed down the left side. He evaded one tackle, reached the byline, and then he crossed the ball into the jamaican box only for it to be slid out of play for a corner......or so we thought!!
Lawerance and company done start to come forward for the corner when the referee say it is ah goal kick. Hyland start tuh protest, and the jamaicans took the goal kick. Burton play shelton into the box and shelton throw himself into Ince and the referee call ah penalty.
The whole warrior team surround the referee but he couldnt care less cause his bread was done buttered by the jamaican FA!!
Shelton score the penalty and the game was over. Simoes come to shake Maturana hand and the columbian steups at him......lol. Simoes start to beg for friends and say is not his fault and put his hand around our coach but Maturana was having none of it.
All in all, referee put aside, 1-1 was a fair result for two caribbean teams who have a realistic chance of making it to South Africa in 2010.
Player Ratings
Ince - 9 - Great come back game today, positioned himself well and showed why he is still out number one.
Smith - 6.5 - Not a bad performance, but not a great one either, but fairly solid none the less.
Lawerance - 8 - He was an added level of composure to our defence, also saved Whitley from getting beat up....lol.
Adams - 5.5 - Caught in possesion plenty times and ball watched too much as well.
Hislop - 7 - Needs a little muscle, but reads the game well.
Telesford - 6 - Played a better game against England but protected the defence well. He is too quick to go to ground and often got left out.
Edwards - 4.5 - Contributed nothing today.
Whitley - 8.5 - Solid as usual, he really has stepped up his game and is showing himself as a leader.
Daniel - 7 - Didnt get any chances to show his dead ball prowess, but he had a fairly ok game playing behind scotty
Hyland - 9 - Still has to work on his off the ball game, but when he has the ball, he is a gem. Scored a well taken goal.
Scotland - 6 - Showed that he doesnt have an automatic place on the team. Work rate was low.
The subs only came on after about 75 mins so i really aint get much time to asses them!!
We going and hit Bermuda about 5!!
ah love it!!
