CFU UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Bermuda holds U-17s to draw
BY NIGEL SIMON
T&T Under-17 footballers began their quest for a second consecutive Fifa Under-17 World Cup spot with a disappointing 1-1 draw with Bermuda in their Group D opener of the 2008 Caribbean Football Union Youth Cup, at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, yesterday.
The T&T boys began the brighter of both teams but had to wait until the 36th minute for the lead through captain, Jerrel Britto.
The local squad then failed to press home the advantage and wasted a few more chances to lead only 1-0 at the interval.
In the second-half, Britto and his team-mates seemed to have lost the plot as they were guilty of being too complacent on the ball, allowing the Bermudans to get into the match and eventually paid for their dull play.
With only ten minutes left on the clock, Bermuda’s Dameli Bell’s free-kick was fired straight at T&T goalkeeper John Thomas, who in cool fashion collected the ball.
However, in collecting the ball, Thomas took too many steps backward and allowed the ball to carelessly cross over the line while still in his grasp to level the scores at 1-1.
The T&T boys will now have to look on at tomorrow’s match between Bermuda and Aruba, before knowing what is needed from their final match against Aruba on Monday at the same venue to advance to the quarterfinals.
U-15 girls begin CFU battle
Captain Rehanna Omardeen and her T&T Under-15 team-mates will be hoping for a much better start than their male peers when the inaugural Caribbean Football Union Girls’ (Under-15) Invitational Championship kicks off today from 10 am.
T&T coached by Richard Hood will open its campaign in Group A versus Bahamas from noon at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
Two hours earlier, Dominican Republic and Anguilla will clash in the Group opener.
In Group B, Haiti meets Grenada from 10am at the University of West Indies Ground, St Augustine while Jamaica and Aruba face off at Queen’s Royal College Ground from noon.
RESULTS
Group A: St Mary’s College Ground, Mucurapo—St Vincent & The Grenadines 4 (Myron Samuel 22nd, 75th, Damien John 39th, Curlon Joseph 66th) vs Turks & Caicos 1 (Matej Kral 80th).
Cuba 7 vs Dominica 0.
Group C: Pointe-a-Pierre; Guaracara Park—Haiti 2 (Aitejacques Samuel 49th, Louis Jess 86th) vs St Kitts/Nevis 0.
Group D: Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya—T&T 1 (Jerrel Britto 36th) vs Bermuda 1 (Dameli Bell 81st).
Group E: Fatima College Ground—Dom Republic 2 (Willington Ogano 56th, Erikson Ricardo 70th) vs N/Antilles 1 (Bryan Anastacia 34th).
Jamaica 5 ( Prince Samuel 42nd, 90th, Kavarst Bloomfeld 51st, 80th, Carl Reid 31st) vs Antigua & Barbuda 1 (Elvin Thomas 48th).
Group F: Pointe-a-Pierre; Guaracara Park—Suriname 9 (Ryssel Stefano 33rd, 62nd, Becker Miguel 43rd, 45th, Haarloo Miguel 49th, Pinas Vitorinio 54th, Jubithana Geraldo 59th, Ajaiso Namario 75th, Simgodrondo Fuerlen 78th) vs US Virgin Islands 0.
