Carter's winner pushes T&T through to Caribbean Cup Semi-Finals.

[Flex]

Carter's winner pushes T&T through to Caribbean Cup Semi-Finals.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).

Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Men’s Team completed a 1-0 victory over Group 5 hosts St Kitts/Nevis at Warner Park on Friday night to book their passage to the semi-final round of the Caribbean Cup in T&T next month.

A 50th minute goal by Defence Force winger Kevon Carter separated the two teams and pushed T&T to six points from their two games in the series so far.

T&T, with head coach Hutson Charles suspended for the game after being ejected in the 4-1 win over French Guiana, were stretched defensively right until the final minute as St Kitts pressed for the equalizing goal and enjoyed better possession for large portions of the second half.

T&T controlled proceedings in the first half and should have managed at least two goals before the break. Densill Theobald marshaled T&T’s play from the midfield but had to go off just before the break due to an ankle sprain. His replacement, Carter, shot home low from close range on an assist by Clyde Leon after he was put through by Jamal Gay

French Guiana defeated Anguilla 4-1 in the earlier encounter. T&T will aim for a third win on Sunday against Anguilla but even failing to do so, they are already guaranteed a semi-final spot as Group 4 runners up Barbados are on six points with a plus one goal difference while T&T  currently holds a plus four goal difference.

Leon came into the starting team at the expense of Carter with T&T strengthening their midfield leaving Gay alone up top.

That approach might have indicated that the T&T coaching staff opted to start cautiously against the hosts which had English-based midfielder Romaine Sawyers and Vancouver Whitcaps forward Atiba Harris in their line up.

St Kitts had proven to be difficult opponents at home to T&T. In the 2006 World Cup qualifiers they went ahead before a late Stern John winner gave the Bertille St Clair coached team three points. In 2009, T&T rallied to a 3-2 win by way of a Kerry Baptiste winner while T&T lost 2-1 in 2002 and 4-1 in another friendly in 1998.

On Friday night though, it was mostly T&T in the opening forty-five as the hosts appeared extra wary of the eight-time Caribbean champs.

A hole in the net forced a delayed start by five minutes with both teams already on the pitch. Still, T&T settled quickly and took the game to their opponents.

Joevin Jones tried to play one over the advancing  Julani Archibald who got a faint touch to prevent an early goal. At the other end Williams also did well to push away shot from 20 yards out by Zephaniah Thomas after punching away the initial right side delivery.

On nine minutes, defender Robert Primus, lurking near the penalty box saw the ball fall perfectly for him but he could only direct his effort over bar.

Seven minutes later  T&T scrambled safety after a dangerous ball played back in bounced off the crossbar with Harris pressuring.

Before the break, Leon and Theobald combined and the W Connection midfielder pushed forward before sending his shot along the ground to which Archibald dealt with.

T&T’s best chance of the opening half fell for Jones. A good build up on the right led to the youngster with only the ‘keeper to beat but his shot was blocked by the alert custodian.

Theobald’s absence due to an ankle sprain put some strain on T&T in the second half as the team look less organized and at times too eager to simply get the ball away once St Kitts found themselves around the T&T penalty box.

Williams was forced to make a good save low down to deny Harris in the 49th and after a Carlyle Mitchell error, Vaneer Harris saw his effort go wide.

Then Carter made sure from close range after a nice piece of work by Leon who slipped in behind two defenders after meeting Gay’s pass.

The closing twenty minutes was played under a brisk shower as St Kitts pressed a T&T team that was found playing too deep.

T&T needed another goal and should have had it when Daniel was sent through  by Carter but with loads of room and time, the Philadelphia Union hurried his effort and put it high and wide Williams came up big with another fine save as T&T rallied out for the three points and a place in the next round scheduled to play in T&T from November 14th.

That group also includes Cuba, Suriname and the Group 2 runner up which starts October 21 and comprises hosts St Lucia, Curacao, St Vincent/Grenadines and Guyana.

After the win, Assistant coach Derek King said he was simply satisfied with the team being able to grind out the result.

“It was not the most impressive win but the guys deserve full marks for effort and fight,” King told TTFF Media.

“We always knew St Kitts would make it difficult but it saying that I thought we played too deep at times and we allowed them to believe they had a chance to get back in the game. We had some chances that in games like these you need to put away in order to ease the pressure and finish off teams.”

Skipper Williams added “The game turned out difficult but you could see the attitude of the guys in that they wanted to win it and they push themselves to the limit. That’s a good sign for any team that is rebuilding. These kind of games helps to build character within a team and I was happy about that.

This game was one to decide the group winners and both teams wanted it on the night. Thankfully we put in the effort and got through in the end. Now it’s about finishing on a high on Sunday and going back home to prepare and continue our run in the competition.” Williams added.

Teams

T&T: - Jan-Michael Williams (capt), Carlyle Mitchell, Robert Primus, Seon Power (Yellow 78), Joevin Jones, Daniel Cyrus, Hughtun Hector, Keon Daniel (Curtis Gonzales 82nd), Clyde Leon, Densill Theobald (Kevon Carter 43rd) (Willis Plaza 84th), Jamal Gay.

Coach: - Hudson Charles (T&T).

St Kitts/Nevis: - Julani Archibald, Patrece Liburd, Gerard Williams, Tesfa Robinson, Vaneer Harris, Thrizen Leader, Romaine Sawyers, Devaughn Elliott (Orlando Mitchum 61st), Atiba Harris (Yellow 24), Zephaniah Thomas (Errol O'Loughlin 75th), Ian Lake (Aaron Moses-Garvey 79th).

Coach: - Jeffrey Hazel (St Kitts).

Video: - Click here to see Carter’s goal

Attendance: - 1700.

Referee: - David Rubalcaba (Cuba).

Standings

P  W  T  L  GF  GA  GD  Pts   
Trinidad & Tobago  2  2  0  0  5  1  +4  6 
St Kitts & Nevis  2  1  0  1  2  1  +1  3 
French Guiana  2  1  0  1  5  5  +0  3
Anguilla  2  0  0  2  1  6  -5  0

Full report to follow

[frico]

I have to admit that from what I heard on the commentary the Kittians outplayed us this could have been a plan to soak up pressure and hit them on the break but that almost didn't pay off,the Kittians so easily could have won or at least equalised.I stil liked how our mainly bench players withstood what was thrown at them but going forward we will need some of the overseas against some of the bigger teams,having said that St.Kitts is one of the strongest test for any other Caribbean country as they have shown in the past.

[weary1969]

So we eh rch d final yet?

[Big Magician]

well done tnt...3 more points....clean sheet

neat movement from Carter to finish the goal...nice to have him back

watch the video  clip...the white boy with the tnt flag...know him well....he is a former tnt Horman Cup player( Golf)...he is a teaching pro...Joel McEchran.

[SWF Reporter]

Abandoned Warriors near Caribbean semis with slender win
By Editor (Wired868.com)

The Trinidad and Tobago national senior football team put its financial issues aside to virtually book a place in the Caribbean Cup semifinal phase yesterday with a slender 1-0 over host nation, St Kitts and Nevis, at Warner Park, Basseterre.
A solitary Kevon Carter goal after a mazy run from midfielder Clyde Leon settled the match in favour of the “Soca Warriors” although the visitors were on the backfoot for much of the affair.
Only a heavy defeat in the final Group Five fixture on Sunday afternoon against cellar-placed Anguilla can undo the Warriors now.
The best second-placed team from either Group Five or Four advances to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) semifinal round alongside winners from either Group.
Barbados finished second in Group Four with six points and a goal difference of plus one. Dominican Republic ended top of Group Four.
Trinidad and Tobago,  who started its campaign with a 4-1 win over French Guiana, has six points and a goal difference of plus five with a game to spare.
Either St Kitts and Nevis or French Guiana, who clash on Sunday evening, can still qualify. French Guiana needs a two goal win to leapfrog Barbados while any victory would do for St Kitts and Nevis.
Twelve teams will compete in the semifinal round for six places in the December 2012 CFU finals alongside defending champions, Jamaica, and hosts, Antigua and Barbuda, who both qualified automatically.
Thus far, Cuba, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Suriname and the Dominican Republic are already through to the semifinal round. Trinidad and Tobago is likely to be one of two teams that join them tomorrow.
Guyana, Curacao, St Vincent and the Grenadines and hosts St Lucia make up the final preliminary group, which will be in action on October 21, 23 and 25. Two teams from that group advance automatically to the semifinal stage.
Trinidad and Tobago is the most successful nation in the history of the Caribbean Cup with eight wins from its 15 editions. But its last regional trophy was won eleven years ago in Port of Spain and the Warriors have not qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup since 2007.
Coach Hutson Charles’ team has had an unsettling start to its 2013 Gold Cup campaign due to a public spat between the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) and the local government and there was more bad news yesterday.
The Warriors left for St Kitts on 8 October 2012 after an assurance by the Ministry of Sport duo of Minister Anil Roberts and Permanent Secretary Ashwin Creed that necessary funds would be wired to the squad by Friday October 12.
Hours before kick-off against St Kitts, the team might have felt abandoned after the realization that Roberts and Creed again arguably failed to live up to their word.
And, although the Warriors’ hotel stay and meals are provided by the CFU without charge, the TTFF could not afford to pay the squad promised match fees of US$250 per game or a modest per diem of just under US$40 per day.
Wired868 understands that the squad pooled money to pay for laundry and purchase medical items as well as additional meals—the team’s 4-1 triumph over French Guiana, for instance, whipped up an appetite that demanded satisfaction after the hotel’s scheduled dinner time.
Read More: http://www.wired868.com/2012/10/13/abandoned-warriors-near-caribbean-cup-semis-with-slender-win/

[just cool]

Hear nah, this anil real disappoint me boy, de man woss dan camps, he's ah real fackin puppet, and doh talk fuh jack, when karma ready fuh dat man ah doh know how he go pay the price, stinking DOORRRGGG!!!   

[just cool]

I tell allyuh who went germany and shake allyuh rump that qualifying for the world cup iz the worst thing ever happen to our football! after that appearance we went into ah huge tail spin and never recover.

while allyuh was jumpin and wining jack warner already was planning for that money! i would have rather that bahrain had went instead of us, in that way we would not have had this false sense of security that our football is good enough to make a WC, which would have forced them to either try harder to raise the standard of football in T&T or give up and walk away altogether, (the latter being highly unlikely, but it's OK to dream).

i am of the belief that jack did not care bout no WC, i believe all he had in the back of his mind was the "MONEY" he was going to make with such an appearance. yuh see if this man did really love football, he would not be doing all he's doing now to ensure that the team failed.

ah glad fellas like fuentes, watson and even anton get to see what we was talking bout all along, that jack warner is ah serious fackin vampire! OH GOD please put ah stop to jack warner and his wickedness toward T&T football!!!!     is only you could stop him.