Trinidad and Tobago got a triumphant start to their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 Boys' Challenge Series on August 17 when they got an exciting 3-1 win against Aruba in their tier one, group A match at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago.
Coach Densill Theobald's T&T charges dictated much of the proceedings against the Aruba team in the second match of the group A double-header, but they were made to work hard for all three points. T&T led 1-0 at the half thanks to a close-range goal from skipper Adasa Richardson, and they needed two crucial strikes late in the second half after gifting Aruba an equaliser in the 48th minute.
The hosts started brightly in the 70-minute affair and created a few glaring opportunities before eventually taking the lead on the half-hour mark. In a spirited five-minute spell of play for the hosts, both Sebastian James and Jaden Marcelle came close to scoring with shots from outside the area, with the busy Richardson being denied by a goal-line clearance in the 28th minute by an Aruba defender after goalkeeper Justin Vermeer needlessly sped off his line and failed to gather the ball.
Two minutes later, Richardson had the home fans jumping with elation when he converted from close range on the second attempt after a lovely piece of skill from James on the left side of the penalty area.
Though in fair control of the game, T&T took a few risks with their passing at the back, and in first-half stoppage-time goalkeeper Christian Telfer was forced to make a point-black save after an errant pass out of the back by central defender Essien Thomas.
T&T's casual play at the back crucially haunted them in the 48th minute when Aruba forward Jonatan Quintero calmly slotted a right-footed effort past Telfer after defender Kenai Richardson inexplicably dummied a firm back pass by midfielder Jahmiah Gibbes, who retreated to break up an opposition attack.
The home team's lapse at the back didn't keep them down for long, though, and they restored their lead in the 55th minute when Aruba defender Lukas Byer turned into his own goal as he tried to deal with a dangerous left-side cross from Antoni James.
T&T's under-14s nearly added to their lead in the 69th minute, but Vermeer shuffled his feet quickly to stop a well-struck long-range free kick by Kyen Anderson.
The hosts secured the three points with a penalty in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage-time, but they had a couple of nervy moments before substitute Jerema Nanton could put the game to bed.
In the 70th minute, Aruba's speedy substitute Kymani Hazel was incorrectly flagged offside by assistant referee Saliber Wesley after latching on to a searching pass behind the T&T defence. Hazel was through on Telfer's goal, but the assistant's flag stopped him in his tracks.
In the sixth minute of stoppage-time, Hazel was again stopped from making a charge at Telfer's goal when Thomas made a brilliant last-ditch tackle in the area after the opposing winger looked to be in behind the defence again.
Two minutes later, Nanton had the last say in the contest when he buried a left-footed penalty past Vermeer to give T&T the 3-1 win after being chopped down in the area.
In the first game of the Bacolet double-header on August 17, Jamaica got a 2-0 win over St Kitts and Nevis.
T&T tackle St Kitts and Nevis in their second game from 6.30 pm on August 18.
TEAMS
Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Christian Telfer (GK); 2.Lucas Shaw (4.Kyen Anderson 62), 14.Kenai Richardson, 5.Essien Thomas, 15.Antoni James; 16.Jaden Marcelle (20.Samuel Balfour 46), 6.Deron Blackman (8.Ackim Duncan), 19.Sebastian James (17.Aaden Jones 52); 7.Darnell Walcott (9.Jeremai Nanton 52), 11.Adasa Richardson (13.Jaeden Anthony 60), 10.Reagan Rowe (12.Jahmiah Gibbes 42).
Unused substitutes: 18.Samuel Hosein (GK), 3.JaiMarley John.
Coach: Densill Theobald
Aruba: 1.Justin Vermeer (GK), 2.Tristan Koolman, 2.Lukas Beyer, 4.Hubert Solagnier, 5.Jayron Gomez, 15.Julien Netto, 10.Born de Nobrega (captain), 8.Allan Vasquez Mendoza, 9.Cyler Arends, 7.Jonatan Aron Quintero, 11.Quincy Nelisse.
Substitutes: 6.Drexxton Silva, 12.Matthew Maduro, 13.Kymani Hazel, Jaylon JRJ Abath, 16.Jack Maxwell, 17.Naim Restrepo, 18.Samuel Alexander Cuartas Ruiz, 19.Matthew Boekhoudt, 20.Juan Luis Cardona.
Coach: Robin Nelisse
Referee: Walsh Matthew
SOURCE: T&T Newsday