Cuba-T&T draw sends Mexico to U-20 QFs

[Tallman]

Cuba-T&T draw sends Mexico to U-20 QFs
CONCACAF.com

Caribbean rivals Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago played to a 0-0 draw Wednesday at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, assuring Mexico of a quarterfinal berth.

It was the second time in three days that Cuba was held without a goal, leaving its knockout-round fate depending on the result of the Group D finale between Trinidad and Mexico. Mexico beat Cuba 3-0 on Monday, meaning Trinidad needs a win, draw or a loss by two goals or less to advance.

Cuba will need Mexico to win by four goals to be assured of advancing.

Mexico joined Costa Rica and Canada in the final eight. Costa Rica and Canada qualified with the Ticos' 3-0 victory over Guadeloupe earlier Wednesday.

Neither side created many dangerous chances. The closest either team came to scoring came in the 38th minute when Trinidad keeper Stefan Berkley blocked Dario Suarez's right-footed volley from 12 meters with and extended left leg.

Other than that, both were largely relegated to chances from distance, which rarely troubled Berkley or his Cuban counterpart Odisnel Cooper.

Trinidad had more possession and shots, but Suarez's chance was one of the few times either side was able to attempt a shot from inside the penalty area.

Trinidad's Shahdon Winchester had a late chance for Trinidad in the 83rd, volleying a softly lofted ball from Kenaz Williams into the area at the edge of the six-yard box, but sending it well over the bar.

The "Young Warriors" are trying for their second consecutive trip to the World Cup and third overall, while Cuba, playing in the CONCACAF finals for the first time since 2002, has never qualified for the world championship.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/XqljNXxZE1I" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/XqljNXxZE1I</a>

[royal]

Our keeper looking save.

[pardners]

The Cuba keeper too.
The ref looking like Leonson Lewis 

[100% Barataria]

Boss save with he foot boy, love it

[Deeks]

We had some free kicks in dangerous positions, if properly executed would have put us in the driver's seat.

[saint27]

I watched the full game last nite ... we were the better team however we lacked penetration throughout the game our one clear chance came in around the 85 minute or so .... we need to be alot better to get to the world cup

[frico]

I think we all have our views about our football,at the moment that doesn't bother me,the fact is we did not lose and that is good.

[Sam]

We have to play de same Mexican team who beat them 7-1 in Mexico during the last under 17 qualifers.

So I hope they fellas doh sleep and feel Mexico will take it easy seeing that they already qualify...

[Sando]

T&T looked good, but the defence chasing the ball together and leaving gaps, thank God we keeper made that save, against Mexico they probably would have burried that.

Sheldon and Jerrel looked good.

[pardners]

I say it before the last U20 WC and I go say it again....Vranes done take the team as far as he could.  If we want WC glory we have to invest in a WC glory coach.

[Storeboy]

I say it before the last U20 WC and I go say it again....Vranes done take the team as far as he could.  If we want WC glory we have to invest in a WC glory coach.

Ditto, ditto, ditto!

[ZANDOLIE]

I say it before the last U20 WC and I go say it again....Vranes done take the team as far as he could.  If we want WC glory we have to invest in a WC glory coach.

We disagreed about this the last time, but this time around, with this particular team, it definitely looking like Vranes is close to his limit. If they showed fight to match their skill they would spank Mexico and take the CONCACAF title toute suite. Hopefully the old man will pull some tricks and make believers out of us.

[Dutty]

separated at birth?

[Fyzoman]

maybe Jack could make a call and Mexico will field second-stringers (with instructions not to score more than two)...conspiracy theory anyone???

[Deeks]

separated at birth?

When I started watching the game I thought TT was in white. Doh laugh.

[Tallman]

T&T aim for better against Mexico.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 20 footballers will need to draw or at least avoid a defeat by a three goal margin when they face Mexico on Friday to secure a quarter final spot in the CONCACAF Final Round after being made to settle for a 0-0 draw with Cuba in Guatemala City on Wednesday night.

T&T would have been through to the “quarters” had they won the game but they made things difficult for themselves after failing to find the net.

Mexico toppled Cuba 3-0 on Monday and are already through to the next stage and head coach Zoran Vranes knows the importance of the encounter and so too his captain Sheldon Bateau who was one of the more productive players for T&T on Wednesday night.

“We cannot lose on Friday and I expect our performance will be better than tonight,” Bateau told TTFF Media. “We did not take our chances and maybe we took a little long to settle.

But now that the first game is out of the way, we know what is in front of us and what we need to do to get into the next round.

You can expect all the players to give their best against Mexico because we know they are considered the giants and we must try to pull off the best result for us at this stage of the tournament.”

On Wednesday night, despite a relatively dull first half in terms of goal mouth action, T&T had the first good look of goal in the 7th minute when Joe Public midfielder Marcus Joseph dragged a left footer wide of the right post.

And Bateau wasn’t afraid to fire from long range, doing so in the 19th minute but it was not enough to test the Cuban custodian. He had another effort moments later which also missed the target.

Cuba were more fluent and threaded their passes well for most of the half but T&T remained organized for large periods and never allowed the Cubans to dominate.

The Cubans though almost went ahead in the 38th minute when Francisco Salazar powered his effort over bar from just outside the box and seconds later Dario Suarez’s shot was stopped by the outstretched left leg of goalkeeper Stefan Berkeley who gave tidy performance in goal for T&T on the night.

Following the half time break, T&T again went closest to breaking the deadlock when Johan Peltier’s right footed effort drifted over bar from the top of box.

Cuba continued to keep the pressure on and forced Berkeley into making another good stop when Yaudel Lahera shot low and the ‘keeper was forced to claim on the second attempt.

Vranes introduced Shahdon Winchester into the attack as T&T went in desperate search  for scoring opportunitiesand a go ahead goal.

The W Connection forward had two good opportunities, the first being shot which came across the goal from the right and went past the far post and then on 82 minutes, following a decent cross from the right by Kenaz Williams, Winchester got to the ball before two defenders but could only direct his effort over bar from deep inside the box on the first post.

Bateau also saw his powerful free kick from just atop the box past inches over bar. There were some anxious moments for both teams in the closing minutes but no goals to show for it.

Vranes commented: “It was not the result we hoped for because of course we were playing for a win tonight but okay it’s one point for us and for them and now it’s in our hands in the next game against Mexico.

We have seen Mexico play already and we know what to expect from them. I will not say too much more other than we need a good result on Friday night to advance in the tournament.”

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 20 footballers will need to draw or at least avoid a defeat by a three goal margin when they face Mexico on Friday to secure a quarter final spot in the CONCACAF Final Round after being made to settle for a 0-0 draw with Cuba in Guatemala City on Wednesday night.