Roberts inspires Soca Warriors.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).Former Turkey and Holland-based striker Darryl Roberts had a hand in all three goals as the Soca Warriors began life under new coach Otto Pfister with a 3-0 shut-out of India in a friendly international at the Hasley Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday.
The 27-year-old Roberts created the opening goal then netted twice in the second-half for T&T in its lone official warm-up before its begins Caribbean Football Union Second Round qualification for the 2014 Brazil World Cup at home to Bermuda at the same venue on September 2, from 7pm. Under the guidance of Germany head coach Pfister, the “Soca Warriors” were playing their first match since last November.
With this being the lone chance for the all-locally based squad to impress ahead of the Bermuda game they started nervously. However, after enjoying the better of the early exchanges, Roberts was bundled over in the 18-yard box as he tried to forced his way between two defenders and Jamaican referee Courtney Campbell pointed to the penalty spot.
Veteran striker Stern John, one of three 2006 Germany World Cup survivors, slotted the ball past goalkeeper Subrata Paul for 1-0 lead in the 19th minute to the delight of the 2,000 plus spectators. It was the 70th goal for John in 110 international appearances, to put him within seven of third placed Brazilian, Pele on the all-time list of goalscorers for their respective country.
T&T continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges with nippy winger Hayden Tinto and midfielder Hughton Hector, looking effective but despite the display, T&T failed to press home the advantage and led 1-0 at the break.
Within one minute of the restart, Roberts doubled the lead for the host when he was on spot to capitalised on an attempted clearance from close range off a defender, which trickled past goalkeeper Paul and into the net. Five minutes later, a surging Hector put through John on the left side of the 18-yard box, but his left footed effort was blocked by Paul.
Despite being outplayed, India managed to create a few nervous moments for the T&T defence and in the 52nd minute a long throw by Raju Eknath Gaikwad found the head of Syed Rahim Nabi, who just failed to keep down his effort.
Two minutes later, the “Bhangra Boys” threatened again with Je Je Lalpekhula putting through striker Sunil Chhetri, who had his fierce right footed effort kept out by T&T goalkeeper, Marvin Phillip, diving to his right.
At the othe end of the field, Theobald had a chance to add a third for T&T, but after a Tinto right sided centre found its way into his path inside the 18-yard box, his effort hit against a wall of Indian players.
With T&T tiring, India began to see more of the ball and in the 72nd minute, a defensive blunder between Carlyle Mitchell and Seon Powers presented Lalpekhula with a chance to cut the deficit but Phillip came up big, diving to his left to preserve the lead.
Midfielder, Andre Pacheco also came close to getting on the scoresheet until Andre Toussaint, an 81st minute substitute for John set up Roberts for the game clincher. After being tripped over, Toussaint caught the Indians napping with a quickly taken free-kick which put Roberts through and he easily chipped the ball over the advancing Paul to complete the scoring in the 84th minute and a third win for T&T in four meetings with the Indians.
ResultT&T 3 (Roberts 46th, 84th, John 19th pen) vs India 0T&T: Marvin Phillip (GK), Carlyle Mitchell, Akeem Adams, Seon Power, Anthony Wolfe, Densill Theobald (Akeil Guevara 88th), Hayden Tinto, Andrei Pacheco Hughtun Hector, Stern John (Andre Toussaint 81st), Darryl Roberts (Juma Clarence 88th)
Subs not used: Kern Cupid, Keston Williams, Noel Williams, Akini Adams (GK)
India: Subrata Pal (GK), Debabrata Roy, Raju Gaikwad, Climax Lawrence (Capt) (Rocus Lamare 87th), Je Je Lalpeklua, Sunil Chhetri (Chongtham Singh 83rd), Samir Naik (Peter Carvalho 78th), Moirangthem Singh, Syed NabiValeriano Rebelo 74th), Steven Dias (Lalrindika Ralte 82nd), Metab Hassainh
Subs not used: Karanjit Singh, Mahesh Gawli
India’s Raju Gaikwad (3) and T&T’s Darryl Roberts in an aerial
battle during yesterday’s friendly international at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Roberts scored a double as T&T won 3-0.
