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T&T Under-20 footballers suffered a second straight defeat on their 15-day tour of Colombia, beaten 2-1 by America Cali Reserves 2-1 at Americas’ Training Centre, on Tuesday.

Playing with a mostly second-string starting team, the Zoran Vranes-coached young Soca Warriors managed to hold their own for the first-half which ended 0-0.

But two minutes into the second-half, Americas went ahead 1-0 with a goal past substitute T&T goalkeeper John Thomas, who replaced Stefan Berkely midfielder Kenaz Williams was then introduced for Jeron Morris as T&T went in search of the equaliser which eventually came in the 71st minute via speedy striker Cordell Cato after which Johan Peltier was introduced for Ryan Fredericks.

Ten minutes before the final whistle Americas regained the lead which it held until the final whistle to hand T&T Under-20s their second loss in a row after starting the tour with two straight victories.

Defenders Akeem Adams and Jerron Morris along with striker Shahdon Winchester all started the match after missing the previous encounter a 2-1 loss to Deportivo Cali, a First Division club, 2-1 on Saturday.

Today, Vranes and his squad will return to action when it faces Cortula Cali before ending its six match tour against Americas First Team on Sunday as they continue preparations for the Concacaf Under-20 Championship in Guatemala City, later this month.

In Guatemala, T&T faces Cuba and Mexico in group play in the 12-team tournament. In their first two matches, T&T squad captained by Sheldon Bateau registered victories over Cali Valle (6-1) and Depor FC (3-1).

The team leaves Colombia on Tuesday and heads to Honduras to face that country’s youth team on the 23 and 25 after which it travels to Guatemala City.

In Guatemala, T&T will open its three-team group series against Cuba on March 30 before facing Mexico two days later as they attempt to qualify for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup to be hosted in Colombia later this year.

The 12-team Concacaf tournament runs from March 28 to April 10 with the teams divided into four groups of three for the preliminary round from which the top two will qualify for the quarterfinals.

The four semi-finalists will qualify for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup. So far, the Asian confederation and UEFA have completed their qualifying competitions with Australia, Korea Republic, Korea DPR, Saudia Arabia, England, Austria, Portugal, Croatia, France and Spain already booking their spots for Colombia.

T&T team against Americas: Stefan Berkley (John Thomas 46th), Akeem Adams, Dwight Ceballo, Ross Russell Jr, Dinelle Lopez, Jerron Morris (Kenaz Williams 46th), Ryan Fredericks (Johan Peltier 74th), Cordell Cato, Jerron Quashie, Isaiah Fergusson, Shahdon Winchester.