Warriors’ evolution continues with goalless draw against New Zealand
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team’s evolution continued last night with a goalless draw against New Zealand at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
Not that it might have felt much like progress at the time.
If half-dozen policemen had walked on the field and started planting cones and “no entry” signs, it would have been appropriate metaphor for what unfolded. This was a good old-fashioned traffic jam.
New Zealand parked a colossal white bus in the drive way. Trinidad and Tobago could not find space the manoeuvre around the “All Whites” and lacked the confidence or magic to drive right through them.
Instead, for much of the 90 minutes, both teams remained in their vehicles and lobbed half-hearted threats at each other.
“The hand brakes were up for sure,” said Trinidad and Tobago coach Stephen Hart, in the post-game press conference.
Hart stood at the edge of his technical area for almost the entire match where he waved, pouted and shouted at his players with the expression of a man who was desperate for his turn in the rest room.
“In terms of managing the ball and moving it around, we were okay,” said Hart. “But we were too slow and our wide players were hesitant to take some risks and take players on.”
Not that his team’s approach was totally devoid of merit.
“We didn’t want to throw ourselves forward and leave ourselves open to the counter attack,” said Hart.
“Soca Warriors” captain Kenwyne Jones seemed to sum up his squad’s approach.
“We did want to give the public something to cheer about,” said Jones. “… (But) it was our first home game after the Gold Cup and we didn’t want to lose.”
Growing up is not only about fun and games. West Indies cricket legend Viv Richards once chided a young Dwayne Bravo for failing to last the day after a quick-fire half-century during a Test match in England.
“There is no better feeling than telling the bowler ‘see you tomorrow’,” said Richards.
Perhaps the Warriors might have felt the same way last night as they went to bed; no goals but, crucially, unbeaten.
The New Zealand bus was certainly one to approach with caution.
On the ball, the Oceania team spread into a 3-5-2 system that ensured plenty passing options in midfield. But, once the Warriors took possession, New Zealand shifted to a 4-5-1 system or, sometimes, two lines of five players within 10 yards of each other.
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