TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO'S Under-21 team have striker Judah Hernandez to thank for helping them to save face after a disappointing performance last night saw them draw 1-1 with Dominica in their first CAC qualifying match.
Hernandez spared his team's blushes literally at the last minute, with a 90th minute equaliser against their lowly-rated opponents at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar to rousing cheers prompted by relief from the modest crowd there to support the "Young Soca Warriors".
Hernandez's teammates had failed to hit the mark the entire evening, due to either wayward shooting, or excellent goalkeeping from Glenson Prince in the Dominica goal. But with the seconds ticking away and a humiliating defeat at home looming, a desperate blast off a Kevon Neaves pass put a single blemish on Prince's sheet, and salvaged some T&T pride.
But the overall performance from this talented T&T bunch was quite disappointing, moreso as they promised so much in the build-up to the match.
Predictably, it was T&T who started the brighter, former St Anthony's College striker Abiola Sandy, missing a chance from close range in the opening minutes. The Dominicans, coming forward seemed less than potent, and T&T were comfortable at the back, but they lacked a clinical final touch at the other end.
Sandy tapped over from 12 metres out, while skipper Makan Hislop's powerful freekick in the 14th was parried wide Prince, and drove another just wide of the right upright four minutes.
In the 26th, defender Yohance Marshall met a Neaves corner on the left, but his header went just over. And in the 29th, Sandy's 20m effort soared over the crossbar. Speedy ex-Malick workhorse Hayden Tinto, playing on the right wing, blasted wide in the 32nd minute, and two minutes later Marshall forced Prince to parry wide.
However, despite their dominance in midfield, and myriad chances, T&T's lack of assertion saw them go behind against the run of play in the 35th minute.
Surinamese referee John Wyngaarde blew his whistle for an infringment at the left of the T&T 18-metre box, and the ensuing kick floated towards T&T custodian Hasely Holder. Holder's attempted parry, which was more like a pat, directed the ball into the path of the onrushing Roy Emanuel and he side-footed home to the delight of the tiny, but vocal Dominican contingent.
In the second period, Dominica began shakily despite their lead. But T&T, continued to miss their chances. Attack after attack either broke down inside the Dominican penalty area, or Prince was able to maintain his team's advantage with some impressive reflex goalkeeping.
The silent T&T crowd became extremely nervous, and vociferous in the closing minutes with their side heading for defeat.
But after a pressure-filled final 10 minutes in which Dominica barely had a glimpse of the ball, T&T finally found an opening. Neaves received a pass at the edge of the area and looped the ball forward for Hernandez, who, in spite of attention from two defenders, had enough composure to rifle in the equaliser to give T&T a point.
T&T are next scheduled to play Haiti on Tuesday at the same venue from 4 p.m. The Haitians are due to open their qualifying campaign with a match against Dominica at the same venue from 4 p.m. tomorrow.