Trinidad and Tobago's Under-21 Select team gave another promising display in a narrow 2-1 loss to Kansas City Wizards in a training affair on Sunday in Tampa.
The match was the second against Major League Soccer opposition for the local squad coached by Ron LA Forest as they continue their preparations for upcoming CAC Qualification matches.
US-based college player Abiola Sandy put the T&T Select team 1-0 ahead with a perfectly executed right footed shot in the first period of the match which was played over three 30-minute periods. Recently selected T&T senior team player Anthony Noreiga appeared for the Wizards after being drafted last month but striker Scott Sealy was not used in the encounter.
The local boys continued to maintain their lead but lost some resistance as the Wizards, preparing for the upcoming MLS season equalised in the second period through Derek Phillips and then fell behind further to another quickly taken free kick. Phillips, an ex-member of the T&T senior side was recently invited to join the Wizards for their preseason campaign.
TTFF technical director Lincoln Phillips credited Sandy for his goal and solid performances both in attack and defence. There were also good reports on debutant Jason Devonish, Hayden Tinto, Ancil Faria and Superstar Rangers' Josimar Belgrave. Midfielder Kevon Neaves was not used in the match as he was being rested to avoid possible injury ahead of the T&T's international friendly against Iceland next Tuesday.
Prior to the match with Kansas, T&T Select defeated a local team - Sarasota FC by a 7-0 margin last week. The goals came from Neaves (2), Kern De Freitas (2), Randi Patterson, Kendall Jagdeosingh and Sandy. Next up, the local team faces United States National Under-17s tomorrow.