full report from CSA
Category: CONCACAF U-20 (U-19)
Score: Canada 0, Trinidad & Tobago 1
Location: Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, TRI
Canada : Trinidad & Tobago (Match tracker / Le film du match)
Canada lost the opening match of the 2009 CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship today, falling 0:1 to host Trinidad & Tobago at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya. The score was a in a deadlock until the 82nd minute when Sean De Silva scored the decisive goal.
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The first half started with the host applying some early pressure. From there, both teams looked to make their mark, but neither side could mount any momentum. In the 11th minute, Randy Edwini-Bonsu used his speed to press on the Trinidad & Tobago goal, but his shot went wide. A few minutes thereafter, Canada had its first corner kick, but the ball was easily cleared.
In the 14th minute, Trinidad & Tobago had its first good chance after a shot rebounded off a Canadian defender. The follow-up shot, however, was sent wide of goal. Canada then had a free kick in the 16th minute, but the shot was high. In the 17th minute, Marcus Haber was booked and Trinidad & Tobago fired its free kick right into the Canadian wall.
As the first half progressed, both sides made their drives down field. In the 21st minute, a good run by the host forced Canadian goalkeeper Adam Street out of his net to make a diving stop. In the 24th minute, Shaun Saiko took a long free kick that sailed over goal.
Canada did start to build an attack for several minutes, a sequence that included a caution to opponent Robert Primus. In the 33rd minute, Saiko played a long free kick that headed on goal, but just couldn't slow down in time for a Canadian striker to get a boot on it.
Late in the half, Trinidad & Tobago had its turn to get the home crowd standing. In the 42nd minute, Canada was very luck after Trinidad & Tobago rushed on goal and fired a low shot that dribbled just wide of the goal. Less than a minute later, Trinidad & Tobago broke through the Canadian defence again, but once again fired the shot wide.
The rest of the half played out with Canada creating a couple of chances. Edwini-Bonsu had a good run and Canada had a late corner kick, but to no avail. The second half then started with Brandon Bonifacio replacing Saiko in the midfield.
In the second half, it was much of the same with neither side taking full control of the match. Both sides had their chances, though, starting with Trinidad & Tobago in the 55th minute as the hosts danced into the Canadian box. Eddy Sidra was beat for a moment, but he recaptured his feet and had the help of goalkeeper Adam Street who deflected the ball to a sweeping Adam Straith.
In the 56th minute, Trinidad & Tobago had another good run, but again the delivery was wide. A few minutes later, Edwini-Bonsu had a great run down the right side and into the box. He managed to get a centering shot from the line, but the ball snaked through to the opposing defender who cleared it well.
In the 67th minute, Canada took a quick throw in after a quick Edwini-Bonsu run down the left side. Canada turned the throw into a centering pass that Haber headed on net. The header was directed on goal, but the goalkeeper just managed to tip the ball over the net. On the ensuing corner kick, some defensive confusion nearly led to a Canadian goal, but the ball was cleared out of danger.
In the 72nd minute, Trinidad & Tobago tried to create some danger with a free kick around the wall, but goalkeeper Adam Street was there to take away the chance. A minute later Canada had a free kick, but it still did nothing to change the score.
Finally in the 82nd minute, Trinidad & Tobago found the net after a Philippe Davies caution one minute earlier. De Silva blasted the shot to the right of the Canadian wall and into the top corner of the net, leaving goalkeeper Street with no chance on the play.
Canada went right back at the Trinidad & Tobago goal and nearly scored in the following minute. Unfortunately, the team would have less than 10 minutes to find an equalising goal, a goal that just wasn't to come on the opening night of the competition.
