'Warriors' have 3-0 stroll against Guyana
By: Ian Prescott (Trinidad Express)
Thursday, September 4th 2008
Very few desired to see Trinidad and Tobago play Guyana-aka Caledonia AIA -for a third time this year.
The match was in preparation for Saturday's World Cup qualifier versus Guatemala. And for or the record, T&T came away with a dull 3-0 victory, Carlos Edwards ( 60th ), Cornell Glen (62nd) and Dennis Lawrence getting the goals.
The promise yesterday was that for a mere $50, those who couldn't afford to watch Saturday's match would at least get to see a few of the senior "Soca Warriors" in action. Instead, Colombian head-coach Francisco Maturana rested most of Saturday's likely starters in the first half, including Dwight Yorke, Edwards, Lawrence, and Glen. Yorke, in shorts and with a white towel around his neck, was never going to play and relaxed in the stands. But, Trinidadians are an intelligent lot, and only about 500 or so fell for the "dummy".
So what was the purpose of the match? Well, for young Toronto FC defender Julius James, it presented an opportunity to show coach Maturana what he has. Swansea City striker Jason Scotland has also admitted to being a little short on match-fitness , and he was one of the few foreign-based players to get a start. At the end of it all though, it is unlikely that Maturana will be making many changes to his regular line-up.
Last night, T&T controlled the action against a Guyana team that was also missing several regulars.
Scotland had T&T's first chance in the 27th minute, but under pressure from defender Walter Moore, hit straight at keeper Ronson Williams from close up. Moments later, Caledonia AIA wide man Gyasi Joyce also put the ball wide from a short distance away. But despite territorial possession, T&T did not manage a menacing shot on goal in the first half.
Maturana made wholesale changes at the start of the second half, bringing on goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, Lawrence, Edwards, Gray, Glen and Densill Theobald. Glen almost made some immediate inroads, stealing the ball in midfield, and almost chipping the Guyana keeper from 30 metres in the 52nd minute. But, it was Edwards who finally gave the home side the lead in the 60th minute, mainly through a sizeable deflection off defender Moore which took his tame 20metre shot past the Guyana keeper.
Glen got T&T's second goal two minutes later, collecting Clyde Leon's straight pass behind the defenders and striking a stiff, low shot into the net to make it 2-0.
Afterwards, Guyana collapsed defensively, and Edwards raced clear a minute later. But, a heavy touch wasted the chance, and when attempting to use theatrics to win a penalty, Edwards was given a yellow card by referee Neil Brizan. Glen later provided Edwards with a good cross which was volleyed onto the body of the Guyanese keeper, who later also brought off a terrific save from Makan Hislop's header.
Phillip had little to do in the T&T goal however, just having to race out once to clear the ball. Glen's pace then won T&T a penalty after he was bundled over in the 89th minute. And to emphasise how non-competitive the match was, central defender Lawrence was allowed to convert the penalty.
Yesterday's dress rehearsal was easy enough, but served as nothing more than a confidence booster. Many left feeling that the Joe Public team-who were watching the match after their 4-0 victory over the New England Revolution - might have provided as much, if not better opposition.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: 21-Jan Michael Williams (GK), 2-Aklie Edwards, 4-Makan Hislop, 5-Julius James, 9-Keon Daniel, 10-Andre Toussaint, 11-Jason Scotland, 15-Gyasi Joyce, 16-Akeil Guevara, 17-Clyde Leon. SUBS: 1-Marvin Phillip, 3-Avery John, 6-Dennis Lawrence, 7-Carlos Edwards, 8-Cyd Gray, 13-Cornell Glen18-Densil Theobald, 19-Dwight Yorke.
GUYANA: Ronson Williams, 3-Howard Lowe, 4-Kestore Jacobs, 5-Walter Moore, 7-Dwain Jacob, 8-Brion. Baker, 9-Konata Mannings, 10-Anthony Abrahams, 12-Shawn Bishop, 13-Charles Polard(C), 14-Dwight Peter. SUBS: 2-Calvin Sheppard, 6-Glenorvon Edmonds, 11-Teon Sarjeant, 15-Philbert Moffat, 16-Shermayne Morris, 17-Dwayne Ali.
