Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 footballers bowed out of the CONCACAF qualifying series for the FIFA World Youth Cup in the Netherlands with a third defeat yesterday. The young Trinidadians put up a spirited display but still went down 3-1 to Panama at the Home Depot Centre, Carson, California.
Playing most of yesterdays second half period with 10 men after Makan Hislop got ejected, also missing in action were T&T's talented midfielders Kendall Jagdeosingh and Keon Daniel through suspension, the Trinidad and Tobago youngsters found themselves trailing midway into the second period.
But a never-say-die effort saw them get a consolation goal through Marcelle Francois in the 77th minute. After being beaten 6-1 by the United States, the Trinidad and Tobago youths were unlucky 2-1 losers to Costa Rica in their second game, before again going down to the Panamanians. The result also qualified Panama (1-1-1, 4 Points), as the second team from Group A, on goal difference over Costa Rica. Panama and United States will now go on to the World Cup finals in Holland. The other two CONCACAF representatives to the FIFA tournament will come from the CONCACAF Under-20 Group B qualifiers as Canada, Jamaica, Mexico and the hosts Honduras compete in San Pedro Sula from January 26-30.
Meanwhile, the United States for the first time in history, the USA finished in sole possession of first-place in a CONCACAF Under-20 Final Round Qualification Group after defeating Costa Rica 2:0 for the 2005 Group A title at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on Sunday.
Group A (GP, W-L-T, F:A, PTS)
USA (3, 3-0-0, 10:1, 9)
Panama (3, 1-1-1, 4:4, 4)
Costa Rica (3, 1-1-1, 3:4, 4)
Trinidad & Tobago (3, 0-3-0, 3:11, 0)
TRI:
21-Andre Charles 2-Carl Smith, 3-Radhanfah Abu Bakr-C, 5-Karlon Murray, 6-Makan Hislop, 8-Devon Maxwell (12-Kezi Lara 45th), 11-Alkie Edwards, 13-Hayden Tinto, 15-Atulla Guerra (4-Marcelle Francois 74th), 18-Kevin Crooks (10-Christopher Sam 57th), 19-Abiola Sandy.
Booked: Hislop 22nd, Smith 26th.
Sent off: Hislop 67th.
TD: Anton Corneal.
PAN:
1-Jose Calderon 2-Tomas Dunn, 4-Roman Torres-C, 5-Jose Venegas, 7-Reggie Arosemena (6-Celso Polo 46th), 9-Edwin Aguilar (8-Cristian Vega 69th), 10-Miguel Castillo, 11-David Arrue, 14-Eduardo Ponce, 16-Luis Gallardo, 18-Ricardo Buitrago (17-Alvaro Salazar 55th).
Booked: Polo 88th, Castillo 89th.
TD: Victor Rene Mendieta.
R: Jose Pineda (HON).