Molino goal lifts T&T over Panama.
CONCACAF.COM.Trinidad & Tobago (1W-0D-2L, 3 points) secured its first points in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, earning a 1-0 win over visiting Panama (1-1-1, 4) on Friday at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Kevin Molino struck for the game’s only goal in the 37th minute, when he beat goalkeeper Jaime Penedo with a right-footed effort from outside the box.
The victory was Dennis Lawrence’s first for the Soca Warriors in a competitive match, since replacing Tom Saintfiet as head coach slightly more than two months ago. Lawrence, who started in all three of T&T’s matches in the 2006 World Cup, was previously an assistant under Roberto Martinez at Wigan, Everton and Belgium.
T&T improved to 5-0-0 all-time in World Cup Qualifying against Panama, which is winless in three of its last four Russia 2018 encounters and has scored only two goals over that stretch.
Two other CONCACAF Hexagonal matches will be played later in the evening: Mexico-Costa Rica and USA-Honduras.
ResultsTrinidad and Tobago 1 (Kevin Molino 37), Panama 0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
Mexico 2 (Javier Hernandez 5, Nester Araujo 45), Costa Rica 0 at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City;
United States 6 (Sebastian LLetget 5, Michael Bradley 27, Clint Dempsey 32, 49, 54, Christian Pulisic 46), Honduras 0 at the Avaya Stadium, California.
TeamsTrinidad and Tobago: 21.Jan-Michael Williams; 11.Carlos Edwards, 25.Curtis Gonzales, 5.Daneil Cyrus, 17.Mekeil Williams; 19.Kevan George, 8.Khaleem Hyland; 7.Cordell Cato (16.Levi Garcia 64th), 10.Kevin Molino (13.Hughtun Hector 79th), 3.Joevin Jones; 9.Kenwyne Jones (capt) (20.Jamille Boatswain 83rd).
Unused substitutes: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK), 22.Glenroy Samuel (GK), 2.Aubrey David, 12.Hashim Arcia, 14.Andre Boucaud, 18.Tristan Hodge, 23.Leston Paul, 26.Willis Plaza, 27.Nathan Lewis.
Coach: Dennis Lawrence
Panama: 1.Jaime Penedo; 13.Adolfo Machado (2.Michael Amir 74th - Yellow 80), 23.Felipe Baloy (capt), 5.Roman Torres, 17.Luis Ovalle; 21.Amilcar Henriquez; 8.Edgar Barcenas (9.Gabriel Torres 63rd), 11.Armando Cooper, 20.Anibal Godoy, 19.Alberto Quintero (18.Luis Tejada 57th); 22.Abdiel Arroyo.
Unused substitutes: 12.Jose Calderon (GK), 3.Jan Carlos, 4.Roderick Miller, 7.Oscar Villarreal, 10.Alejandro Taylor, 14.Miguel Camargo, 16.Josiel Nunez, 15.Eric Davis.
Coach: Hernan Gomez.
StandingsP W D L F A PtsMexico 3 2 1 0 4 1 7
Costa Rica 3 2 0 1 6 2 6
Panama 3 1 1 1 1 1 4
United States 3 1 0 2 7 6 3
Trinidad & Tobago 3 1 0 2 2 5 3
Honduras 3 1 0 2 3 8 3
Next up on March 28, 2017Trinidad & Tobago v Mexico
Panama v USA
RELATED NEWSThree Points in the Bag!
TTFA Media.Trinidad and Tobago secured its first three points with a deserving 1-0 victory over Panama at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in CONCACAF Final World Cup qualifying on Friday night.
A 37th minute goal by Minnesota United forward Kevin Molino did the job for the hosts before the home fans in Port of Spain.
Losers of their first two matches in the six-team final round home-and-away qualifiers to Costa Rica (0-2) and Honduras (1-3), T&T took to the field under the guidance of Dennis Lawrence in search of a first win.
And from early on, the hosts, skippered by striker Kenwyne Jones, asserted themselves against the visitors, just as coach Lawrence hoped.
Early on it was all one-way traffic with Seattle Sounders utility player Joevin Jones firing a free-kick over bar from just outside the 18-yard box in the fourth minute, while nine minutes later, the Carenage-born danger man had Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo Cano at full stretch to tip over a scorching effort from a left sided shot that looked destined to sneak in the underside of the crossbar.
Panama managed to withstand the early pressure from T&T and on the half-hour mark created its best chance with striker Abdiel Arroyo heading wide of the target after being left unmarked in the Soca Warriors’ 18-yard box.
Urged on by coach Lawrence from the sidelines, Central defender Daniel Cyrus forced the ball up the centre of the field to Molino, who held off two challenges and from the edge of the 18-yard box, fired a low right-footed shot that nestled into the bottom right hand corner of the goal past Cano.
On the stroke of half-time Panama, who, like T&T, held the ball well in possession, had a chance to get on even terms from a free-kick. However, goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, who up to that point was much busier with back passes from his team-mates, was equal to the task and parried away right-footed shot from Edgar Yoel Barcenas, with veteran right back Carlos Edwards on spot to head away the rebound for a corner.
The Panamanians started the second half in much brighter fashion and pinned T&T back for a few minutes, but the closest they came to a goal was a few wild flashes across the T&T penalty area which were easily dealt with.
At the other end, the lively Cordell Cato created a great chance for T&T to double its advantage in the 62nd, but after running almost 40 yards with the ball and finding a surging Molino, he could only fire into the body of Cano low down.
Four minutes later, Jones outran Panama captain and Last stopper Felipe Baloy.
However, he dragged a left-footed shot into the side netting. But that effort did not sum up a workman-like performance from the big man.
In the end, Molino’s strike was enough to secure T&T’s first three points in the final round on the road to Russia 2018, and a sure confidence booster ahead of Tuesday’s match against Mexico at the same venue from 7 pm, where coach Lawrence will look to add to his debut World Cup qualifying win.
Post Match Press Conference Lawrence speaks about the winHighlights - T&T defeats Panama 1-0 in World Cup QualifierMolino fires T&T past Panama.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).KEVIN MOLINO’S past indiscretions were soon forgotten with a 37th minute goal to help Trinidad and Tobago beat Panama 1-0 and gain their first points in the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Final Round campaign in a combative encounter last evening at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
With Panama central defender Roman Torres off the field after losing his left shoe in a tangle with T&T captain Kenwyne Jones, the T&T attackers took full advantage with Molino taking a pass from Joevin Jones on the left, moving into vacant space centrally and slotting a right-footer to the bottom righthand corner of Jaime Cano’s net. It was Molino’s first goal and match of the current hexagonal campaign after serving a two-game suspension under former coach Stephen Hart for breaking team curfew. He did not play during the short reign of Belgian Tom Saintfiet.
The final whistle from Honduras referee Orlando Matamoros brought huge relief to newly installed T&T coach Dennis Lawrence as he was embraced by his huge technical staff at the end of a tense affair.
Lawrence, making his debut as a coach in competitive international football, reverted to the core of the players who featured in the previous qualifiers under Hart.
However, with centre-back Sheldon Bateau suspended and his regular sidekick Carlyle Mitchell injured, Curtis Gonzales was partnered with Daneil Cyrus in the central defensive positions while veteran Carlos Edwards took up Cyrus’ regular spot at right-back.
Joevin Jones had the first goal-scoring opportunity, in the fifth minute, when he won a freekick outside the penalty box and took it himself, but the left-footed effort ailed a few metres overbar.
Panama had a chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute, as striker Abdiel Arroyo slipped behind the defence to meet a cross from Anibal Godoy, but his header went wide.
There was end-to-end action at that stage of the game, with Joevin Jones, who had Kenwyne Jones and Cordell Cato in the box, deciding to take on the goalie and his effort was brilliantly tipped overbar by the alert Cano.
The game went into a brief lull, but Torres’ misfortune was taken advantage of by the goal-bound Molino who lashed his shot low to the goalkeeper’s right.
Panama midfielder Edgar Barcenas had a chance to restore parity, at the stroke of halftime, after he was fouled by Khaleem Hyland but his effort was pushed wide by an alert Jan-Michael Williams.
Panama had the bulk of chances in the second half but they were let down by their lack of firepower in the final third and a well-organised T&T backline.
Barcenas had an effort parried by Jan-Michael in the 53rd while his volley went sky-high three minutes later.
In a rare attacking move, Cato muscled his way through the Panama defence and fed Molino whose effort was held low to his left by Cano.
The much-maligned Kenwyne Jones did well to race on to a long clearance by Hyland but, after leaving Panama stopper Felipe Baloy for dead, he chose the wrong option and struck the side-netting.
Molino was taken off in the 80th as a precautionary measure after a muscle injury and the TT team held firm, despite concerted pressure from the Panama attackers.
Trinidad and Tobago will now turn their attention towards Tuesday’s game against Mexico, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, while Panama will be hosting the United States, also on Tuesday.
TEAMS –
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Jan-Michael Williams; Daneil Cyrus, Curtis Gonzales, Mekeil Williams, Carlos Edwards; Kevan George, Khaleem Hyland, Joevin Jones, Cordell Cato (Levi Garcia 64th), Kevin Molino (Hughtun Hector 80th); Kenwyne Jones (capt) (Jamille Boatswain 84th).
PANAMA: Jaime Cano; Roman Torres, Felipe Baloy (capt), Luis Ovalle, Aldolfo Machado (Michael Murillo 74th); Amilcar Henriquez, Armando Cooper, Edgar Barcenas (Gabriel Torres 64th), Alberto Medina (Luis Tejada 59th), Anibal Godoy; Abdiel Arroyo.