United States College-based forward Darryl Roberts netted a 77th minute winner to give a Trinidad and Tobago squad of World Cup hopefuls a deserved 2-1 victory over Miami-based Honduras 5-Stars in a training outing at the Sunrise Hilton Ground on Sunday.
Roberts, playing the full 90 minutes struck in front of Beenhakker who used the second match of the training camp to have a better idea of some of the new players at his disposal as well as fine tune some of the regulars from the team which went through the qualification phase for Germany 2006.
And following a slim 1-0 win over Florida International University on Friday, Beenhakker’s squad not only met a tougher opposition this time but also gave a better showing in the early afternoon affair which was played in chilly conditions from 1pm (2pm T&T Time). Their opponents this time comprised of Honduran players who have played in their country’s domestic league as well as have featured on Honduran National Youth teams and are now with the 5-Stars which holds a high record in the Copa Latina competition. T&T-born player Jason Sealey was also in their line up.
Beenhakker’s starting team was Jan Michael Williams in goal, Nigel Henry, Atiba Charles, Julius James Anthony Noreiga, Kerry Baptiste, Osei Telesford. Kevon Neaves, Anthony Wolfe, Anthony Rougier and Roberts. Errol McFarlane was not considered due to a groin strain.
The Hondurans were busy from the first whistle but T&T also started in high gear and took the lead in the 5th minute through Noreiga who couldn’t; have hoped for a better way leaving a good impression before heading off to join new MLS side Kansas City Wizards.
A well whipped in right side corner by Neaves was nodded back in from the far post for Noreiga to direct his header past goalie Richard Pinevyo.
Seven minutes later Roberts collected and cut back in on the left side before shooting wide of the far post as T&T settled early and pressed for further advantage. Noreiga, composed at the back, was also making himself wisely useful in attack and was up for the spot kicks around the widths of the penalty box. His downward header went inches wide from a left side corner in the 16th minute.
While the Hondurans were playing their known short passing and nippy style of game, T&T also kept up the pace and did it well with possession play.
A minute after Noreiga’s miss, Baptiste was well picked out wide on the right of the box and he moved in on goal before seeing his low crack blocked by the advancing goalie.
Persistence paid off for the Hondurans when a mix up between an advancing Williams and Noreiga in attempt to claim a high ball played into the box allowed Eduardo Ravenna to squeeze between both of them and run on the loose ball before hitting home into an unprotected goal.
Baptiste latched on to another Wolfe pass just before the break but once again his strong effort on goal was kept out by the ‘keeper. The scores were deadlock at the interval but Beenhakker appeared to be liking what he was seeing. He then allowed Silvio Spann, Cyd Gray and Aurtis Whitley some action by putting them on in place of Noreiga, Wolfe and Baptiste for the start of the second half.
Just after the resumption, good hustle by Gray and Spann allowed the ball to bounce into Whitley’s path and he had no hesitation before sending a right footed volley just wide of the far post from way out on the right of the area.
Rougier also had a shy at goal soon after but then Osman Pavon tested Williams with a free kick attempt on the left, forcing the young goalie to block on his near post.
Leovanny Bueso also brought Williams into action with a well taken free kick which he pushed out in the 54th minute as the Hondurans pushed more forward during the early stages of the half. But T&T withstood the pressure and gradually regained control of proceedings.
Neaves posed a constant threat to the opposing team on the left as he attempted to take on players at every given opportunity and he also created problems with some well whipped in balls from that end.
The eventual winner came when Neaves body-beat his man on the flank causing him to hit the surface on his backside, before playing it inside for Whitley who couldn’t get the shot off but was composed enough to get it through to Roberts and his quickly taken shot was only partially blocked by the ‘keeper before it trickled over the line.
Beenhakker later told his players as they walked off following the final whistle “Good effort guys. I like it. I like it very much. Thank you for the effort.”
The US-based players – Telesford, Roberts, Neaves and Noreiga will report back to their colleges and club on Sunday evening while the rest of the T&T contingent is scheduled to fly in to Trinidad at 7pm with the exception of Rougier who heads out to England. Beenhakker will announce a provisional squad of 30 players this week from which the 20-man squad for the Iceland game will come from.
T&T Squad:
1-Jan Michael Williams, 5-Nigel Henry, 6-Atiba Charles, 4-Julius James, 15-Anthony Noreiga (16-Silvio Spann 45th), 8-Kerry Baptiste (24-Cyd Gray th), 18-Osei Telesford, 12-Kevon Neaves, 23-Anthony Wolfe (9-Aurtis Whitley 45th), 7-Anthony Rougier, 13-Darryl Roberts.