Hyland rescues a point for Warriors.
By: Nigel Simon (T&T GUardian).
Substitute Khaleem Hyland rescued a point for the Soca Warriors when he netted an 87th minute goal to earn T&T a 1-1 draw with visitors Honduras in their 2010 South Africa World Cup Concacaf Final Round qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, last night. The Soca Warriors looked on the verge of suffering a defeat in their first match at home in the final round qualifiers, until Belgium-based Hyland, who plies his trade with Zulte Waregem capitalised on an indecision by goalkeeper Noel Valladres to get his team on level terms to the delight of a capacity crowd, who seconds earlier were very subdued.
Earlier on it was the Hondurans, unbeaten in three previous visits to T&T, who started the better of both teams with Amado Guevara and Julio De Leon dominating the midfield as T&T tried to cope without the suspended Christopher Birchall and captain Dwight Yorke. De Leon should have given his team the lead in the 23rd minute after being put through via a clever chipped pass from Guevera, however with T&T goalkeeper, Jan-Michael Williams closing in his lobbed effort nestled on the roof of the net.
Up to that point, T&T’s best chance came via a Stern John challenge on goalkeeper Noel Valladares for a looping ball, with the latter having to fist the ball away to avert any danger. On the half-hour, strikers Jason Scotland and John worked a neat one-tow on top the Hondurans 18-yard box, but on the second try, Scotland’s aerial pass to John, was just out of reach, with the goalkeeper and goal at his mercy. Four minutes later, Scotland turned well on the top the right hand side of the 18-yard box with a man on his back, however his left footed effort just missed the far post with goalkeeper Valladares scampering.
Minutes before the interval, De Leon almost fired Honduras into the lead from long range, but goalkeeper Williams, who got the starter’s role ahead of the injured Marvin Phillip was equal to the task and tipped it over for a corner. Seconds into the restart, Pavon should have headed Honduras into the lead but with the goal at his mercy he missed the target from less than six yards out. Minutes later Pavon, who has a nack for scoring against T&T made amends for his earlier miss when he headed into a gaping goal from a weak Williams two handed clearance attempt.
With their back against the walls, the Warriors who were being dominated in midfield, stepped up the pace and Scotland almost drew the host level with a mis-timed blast that had Valladares sprawling to his left to keep up his goalward attempt in the 57th minute. From the resulting corner, utility player, Anthony Wolfe, drilled a right footer goalward, but that too was just off target as the Warriors began to grow desperate. Coach Maturana then went to his bench and introduced Hyland and Kenwyne Jones for the in-effective Densill Theobald and Scotland and a few minutes later assistant player coach, Russell Latapy was also introduced at the expense of the below par Keon Daniel.
The trio brought new life into the T&T team as the host went in search of the equaliser and with three minutes left on the clock, Hyland delivered when he was picked out at the far post by Latapy an his tame shot managed to creep past goalkeeper Valladares over the line to send the nervous crowd into a frenzy. The full T&T team from yesterday’s match is expected to depart at 8 am today for Nashville Tennessee in North America with the inclusion of Birchall and goalkeeper Clayton Ince where the Soca Warriors will face the USA on Wednesday in another World Cup qualifier. Yorke will also travel with the team.
TEAMS:
T&T: Jan-Michael Williams, Keyeno Thomas, Dennis Lawrence (capt), Aklie Edwards, Clyde Leon, Densill Theobold (Khaleem Hyland 61st), Stern John, Jason Scotland (Kenwyne Jones 61st), Keon Daniel (Russell Latapy 66th), Carlos Edwards, Anthony Wolfe.
Subs not used: Marvin Phillip, Makan Hislop, Andrei Pacheco.
Honduras: Noel Valladares, Osman Chavez, Maynor Figueroa, Jorge Caballero, Hendry Thomas, Amado Guevara, Wilson Palacios, Carlos Pavon (capt) (Carlo Costly 80th), Julio De Leon, Ramon Nunez (Marvin Chavez 76th), Oscar Garcia.
Subs not used: Ricardo Canales, Erick Norales, Emilio Izaquirre, Mauricio Sabillon, Elvis Turcios.
Other Concacaf Scores
Mexico v Costa Rica 2-0
El Salvador 2 v USA 2
T&T hold Honduras in World Cup qualifier.
By: Ian Prescott (T&T Express).
WARRIORS SAVE IT
Khaleem Hyland's low shot, and a fumble by the Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladres, rescued a 1-1 draw for Trinidad & Tobago in a CONCACAF South Africa 2010 World Cup qualifier last night at a packed Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The "Soca Warriors" looked to have suffered from a slow start to each session when Honduras took the lead early in the second half, after the teams were goalless after the first period. The visitors went ahead in the 50th when T&T keeper Jan Michael Williams' poor attempt to punch away a corner-kick gave veteran striker Honduran striker Carlos Pavon a free header into the T&T goal. A few minutes earlier, Pavon let T&T off the hook when heading wide from a promising position.
But the Warriors went in search of the equalising goal and Anthony Wolfe almost pulled them level in the 61st when picking up Carlos Edwards' low cross and blazing just over the crossbar.
The introduction of veteran playmaker Russell Latapy in the second half added plenty punch to T&T's attack. They pressed for long periods for the equalising goal, but once ahead, Honduras became entrenched and difficult to beak down.
Coach Francisco Maturana began the match with some surprises in the T&T starting line-up. He benched Sunderland striker Kenwyne for Jason Scotland, the in-form Swansea City front man and also gave Densill Theobald Dwight Yorke's central midfield role. But the absence of an experienced playmaker was obvious early on, when passes were regularly going astray.
The Soca Warriors finally looked a threat when Stern John's hard work won a corner in the 19th minute. Right winger Carlos Edwards swung it in and picked out captain Dennis Lawrence at the back post, but the beanpole central defender had his hurried shot blocked. Later, both Scotland and defensive midfielder Clyde Leon caught keeper Valladres backing, but both cleared the crossbar from distance. T&T were finding their range.
On the half hour, Stern John looked clear through the Honduran defence, when working a combination with strike partner Scotland but the return ball just edged away from his toe. And soon after Scotland turned on defender Maynor Figueroa and curled just wide of the far corner with the Honduran keeper well beaten.
Honduras also had two good chances in the first half. In the 24th, a ball over the top of makeshift right back Anthony Wolfe freed Honduran playmaker Julio "Rambo" De Leon, who caught T&T keeper Jan Michael Williams out of position but he lifted the ball over the bar. Always free in the centre of the field, De Leon also had a good shot near the end of the half and forced the T&T keeper to tip the ball over. But Pavon's strike was all the Central Americans would get on the night.
