Warriors go down 3-1 to Reggae Boyz.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
Trinidad and Tobago’s senior footballers got a wake up call on Wednesday night as they faltered 3-1 to Jamaica in a friendly international before an overpacked Marvin Lee Stadium.
The “Reggae Boyz” under head coach Theodore Whitmore triumphed over the lackluster Soca Warriors outfit through goals by Dane Richards,a gem from outside the box, Rudolph Austin and Bryan to silence the home fans that turned out in their numbers to support Russell Latapy’s men.
Both team spent the opening five minutes feeling out each other but it was not difficult to sense that Jamaica were more fired up and they grabbed the lead on eight minutes when T&T failed to clear miserably at the back and Richards cracked home from outside the box leaving Jan Michael Williams without any hope. Before that, Shavar Thomas got up well to powerfully head just over bar from a Jamaica right corner in the second minute.
T&T, with several T&T Pro League high performers in its line-up, settled slowly and there was not much happening up front for Kerry Baptiste and Devon Jorsling and Kevon Carter was not allowed the freedom on the right as he enjoyed in his double scoring performance against Antigua/Barbuda a few week back.
T&T went into the match without starting midfielders Clyde Leon and Densill Theobald through injury while right back Kern Cupid suffered an ankle sprain in training on Tuesday leaving Latapy, who opted to go with a mostly home-based team, to use Makan Hislop on the right.
He struggled on the evening as T&T looked suspect at the back for much of the encounter. Also missing the encounter due to injury was Radafah Abu Bakr. This meant that Joe Public’s Carlyle Mitchell made his senior international debut alongside Keston Williams in the middle of defense.
Jamaica mounted several attacks on goal and should have doubled their lead when Ryan John blasted over bar from close up in the 21st minute. Richards also went close on a couple of occasions.
T&T eventually got their equalizer in the 27th minute and brought the home crowd back into it. Keon Daniel, who had a decent try moments earlier, played a neat ball into the area from the left and Jorsling outmuscled his man to direct home from near the centre of the box past Donovon Ricketts.
T&T’s celebrations were shortlived as Mitchell brought down Bryan and Austin converted the resulting penalty
The homeside tried to force an equalizer before the break but to no avail. On one occasion, T&T strung some eight passes around the box before Hughtun Hector fired wide.
T&T started slowly after the break and were punished for more lapse defending. Bryan wasn’t picked up by the T&T back line and was able to head home a right side deliver to send Jamaica ahead 3-1.
Latapy introduced Kendall Jagdeosingh and Jason Marcano into the attack and both players had a couple tries at goal but nothing to trouble the visitors. Daneil Cyrus replaced defender Mitchell and he put in a fairly good showing that would warrant a recall to the team.
Jamaica were reduced to ten men when Barbados referee Trevor Taylor showed Rodulph Austin the red card for taking down Jagdeosingh. T&T had one last good look at goal when Noel swung a free kick over from the left but Williams failed to connect from close up on the far post.
The game, even with five minutes added on time, finished without any fireworks at the end and the Jamaicans coming away 3-1 winners. The return friendly is carded for Kingston on October 5. Before that T&T will travel to face Belize and Panama in early September.
Teams
Trinidad & Tobago: - 21.Jan-Michael Williams, 16.Makan Hislop, 6.Keston Williams, 3.Aklie Edwards, 17.Carlyle Mitchell (5.Daneil Cyrus 54th), 11.Kevon Carter (10.Hayden Tinto 74th), 19.Keon Daniel (13.Kendall Jagdeosingh 66th), 8.Trent Noel (capt), 7.Hughtun Hector (18.Devon Jamerson 78th), 4.Kerry Baptiste (12.Jason Marcano 54th), 9.Devon Jorsling.
Subs not used: - 1.Marvin Phillip, 2.Ataullah Guerra.
Trinidad & Tobago Coach: - Russell Latapy.
Jamaica: - 1.Donovan Ricketts, 17.Rodulph Austin, 8.Eric Vernan (15.Ricardo Cousins 88th), 2.Richard Edwards (14.Devon Williams 90th), 6.Jermaine Taylor, 4.Shavar Thomas (3.O’Neil Fisher 89th), 7.Ryan Johnson (12.Kenardo Forbes 78th), 9.Kavin Bryan (5.Devon Hodges 66th), 11.Troy Smith, 16.Dicoy Williams, 10.Dane Richards (19.Adrian Reid 80th).
Subs not used: Mario Swaby, Andre Blake.
Coach: - Theodore Withmore (JAM).
Jamaica Goals: - Dane Richards (7th), Rodolph Austin (30th-Pen), Kevin Bryan (52nd).
Trinidad & Tobago Goal: - Devon Jorsling (28th).
Jamaica Yellow Cards: - Eric Vernan (10th), Donovan Ricketts (69th).
Jamaica Red Card: - Rodolph Austin (78th).
Trinidad & Tobago Injury: - Carlyle Mitchell.
Venue: - Marvin Lee Stadium.
Attendance: - 4,550.
Referee: - Trevor Taylor (Barbados).
