Warriors hit St Vincent for six.
T&T Newsday Reports.The Soca Warriors trounced St Vincent 6-0 yesterday to go three points clear at the top of Group C in a 2018 World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Goals from Sheldon Bateau (36th), Joevin Jones (49th), skipper Kenwyne Jones (60th), Kevin Molino (66th) and Trevin Caesar (86th, 89th) gave the T&T fans much to cheer about as the hosts took a giant step towards booking their place in the last round of qualification to Russia 2018.
After a sloppy showing on Friday in a 3-2 win in St Vincent, coach Stephen Hart called for an improved showing by his players and they did so in a match they could have easily won by a larger margin.
T&T , after a dominant start, got the first goal from Bateau as T&T had a 1-0 halftime advantage.
Bateau started a marauding run down the middle and, after being escorted by the St Vincent/Grenadines defence, he slipped a ball to Joevin Jones to his right. Joevin’s left-footed shot was saved by goalkeeper Lemus Christopher, but an alert Bateau got the rebound and slotted his right-footed effort to Christopher’s left.
Bateau was joined by his captain Kenwyne Jones and midfielder Kevin Molino in a celebratory dance, popularised by the local dancer “Uncle Ellis” during the 2016 Carnival season.
T&T coach Stephen Hart made two changes from the team who won 3-2 away to St Vincent/ Grenadines on Friday – double- goalscorer Levi Garcia came in for right-back Daneil Cyrus (with Justin Hoyte dropping to the wingback role) while Mekeil Williams replaced centreback Yohance Marshall.
The hosts had a chance to get going in the first minute, when Kenwyne Jones was fed a through ball down the right by Andre Boucaud but his low cross missed the outstretched Molino.
However, the visitors had a rare chance in the fifth minute, as Bateau was dispossessed by Oalex Anderson who raced on goal but was denied by T&T keeper Marvin Phillip.
Christopher was lucky that Khaleem Hyland’s freekick struck his right post in the ninth minute, while Molino got a return ball from Garcia but was blocked by an alert Christopher.
Kenwyne Jones forced a good save with a close-range header, in the 26th, while Joevin Jones’ low left-footer, on the stroke of halftime, missed the target by a few inches.
Immediately upon the resumption, St Vincent almost equalised after an errant pass by Joevin was intercepted and squared to Myron Samuel at the far post who stretched but was unable to steer it into the open net. Joevin would make amends for his error though, driving at the Vincey defence on a counter and lashing a low left-footer to the near post to make it 2-0.
TT were tearing apart the visitors and the skipper Kenwyne Jones had two gilt-edged chances to extend the advantage but it was third time the charm when midfielder Khaleem Hyland laid it on a plate for him with a low cross from the right in the six-yard box and the forward tapped it home.
Kenwyne’s profligacy in front goal continued, though, one-on-one with the goalie again but he flashed his shot wide on the half-turn.
The former Sunderland player switched to provider, however, turning smartly just outside the ‘D’ and slipping Molino through.
The Orlando City player, returning from an ACL injury, held off his marker before slotting the ball to the far post to finish off the contest.
T&T goalie Marvin Phillip’s clean sheet was almost spoiled by St Vincent, though, Oalex Anderson weaving his way into the box on a solo run down the left but his shot rebounded off the near and far post and back into play, much to the relief of the T&T supporters.
Substitutes Sean De Silva and Trevin Caesar combined to make it 5-0, the Central FC midifelder darting in from the right and piercing the visitors defence to find Caesar who struck his shot first time to the far post. Caesar would make it 6-0 soon after as the St Vincent defence was in disarray.
Group-C ResultsTrinidad and Tobago 6 v St Vincent and the Grenadines 0Bateau 36
J.Jones 49
K.Jones 59
Molino 66
Caesar 85
Caesar 89
United States 4 v Guatemala 0Dempsey 12
Cameron 36
Zusi 46
Altidore 90
TeamsTrinidad and Tobago: 1.Marvin Phillip; 13.Justin Hoyte, 17.Mekeil Williams, 4.Sheldon Bateau, 2.Aubrey David; 8.Khaleem Hyland, 14.Andre Boucaud; 16.Levi Garcia, 10.Kevin Molino (20.Trevin Caesar 70th), 3.Joevin Jones (Yellow 34) (12.Sean De Silva 82nd); 9.Kenwyne Jones (capt) (6.Neveal Hackshaw 77th).
Unused substitutes: 21.Adrian Foncette (GK), 5.Daneil Cyrus, 7.Hughtun Hector, 11.Willis Plaza, 18.Yohance Marshall, 19.Shahdon Winchester, 23.Jomal Williams.
Coach: Stephen Hart.
St Vincent and the Grenadines: 1.Lemus Christopher; 14.Akeem Williams, 3.Roy Richards (capt), 5.Shawn Benjamin, 16.Jolanshoy McDowald (13.Brad Miguel 56th), 4.Jarrel McMaster, 6.Shemol Trimmingham, 17.Emerald George, 9.Myron Samuel (8.Dorren Hamlet 73rd), 10.Oalex Anderson, 12.Tevin Slater (7.Kyle Edwards 62nd).
Unused substitutes: 22.Kevan Henry (GK), 15.Kevin Francis, 19.Shandel Samuel, 21.David Pitt.
Coach: Cornelius Huggins.
Referee: Sandy Vasquez (Dominican Republic).
StandingsP W D L F A PtsTrinidad and Tobago 4 3 1 0 11 3 10
United States 4 2 1 1 10 3 7
Guatemala 4 2 0 2 7 6 6
St Vincent & the Grenadines 4 0 0 4 3 19 0
Video -
Hart's Post Match Comments after 6-0 win over St Vincent/Grenadines