Trinidad and Tobago under-17 team put in a very encouraging performance in the first of two practice games against under 17 World Cup winners Mexico at the Fatima college ground, Mucurapo on Sunday.
In a game where the ground made it difficult for the two teams to settle, it was Trinidad who had the first real chance at goal, when in the 28th minute a well taken free kick was missed by Daniel Joseph.
Two minutes later Leston Paul should have done much better after a good build-up afforded him an open shot but he blazed over bar. These opportunities seem to heat up the game, in the 32nd minute T&T’s goalkeeper and Captain Jesse Fullerton had to dive full length to his right to save a 20 metre drive by Mexico’s Francisco Mejia, when a retreating defence allowed he time and space to do so.
One minute later T&T would find themselves a goal down, when a Mexican long ball beat their defence and keeper Fullerton took too long to leave his line, leaving Jesus Millan with the simple task of slipping the ball pass him, 1-0 Mexico.
Trinidad and Tobago continued to match Mexico in every department on the field with Micah Lewis being a thorn in the side of the Mexicans with his strong running and quick footwork on the right side.
Just before the half Daniel Joseph made a good run but his shot was blocked out by the Mexican defence, the resultant corner was cleared off the line by the Mexicans.
The second half started enterprisingly with the Mexicans bringing their beautiful short passing and hard running style to the fore and only three minutes had passed, when half time substitute Ulises Plascencia blasted over bar with the T&T goal at his mercy.
Micah Lewis continued to run at the Mexican defence, with winger Andres Enriquez finding it difficult to contain him and in the 50th minute Stephen Knox should have done much better after Lewis’s center found him unmarked on top the box, but he hesitated and lost the chance to shoot.
The Mexicans continued to pressure the Trinidad defence which stood firm and captain Fullerton was called upon to make some good saves. The Trinidad and Tobago team also created some goal scoring opportunities but a combination of rugged defending and a hesitant on the part of the T&T to shoot prevented them from capitalizing.
As expected in a game of this nature the second half saw many changes being made by both sides this affected the cohesion of the Mexican side more than that of Trinidad and they came more into the game.
Substitute Daneil Cyrus made some telling runs up the left side and brought some balance to the T&T attack in the 67th he rounded the Mexican left back but had his cross blocked.
The resulting corner was cleared off the line after the ball fell to Chike Sullivan.
Daniel was again in the middle of the 77th minute but his shot was blocked by a packed Mexican defense. Mexico would rub salt into T&T’s wound when in the last minute of the game an errant back pass gifted them a soft goal which Ulises Plascencia gleefully accepted, 2-0.
In the end the 2-0 score line did not do justice to the effort by the Trinidad and Tobago youngsters and coach Anton Corneal would have a lot of positives to take away from the game.
Referee: Philip Jordan
Teams:
Mexico: Alfredo Medina(gk), Christian Vazquez, Daniel Fraire, Alberto Pacheco, Raul Lopez, Francisco Mejia, Jose Oartuda (Ulises Plascencia45th), Juan Ayala (Isaac Munoz87th), Carlos Armas, Jesus Millan (Edgarivan Rodriguez 55th), Andres Enriquez.
Trinidad and Tobago: Jesse Fullerton(gk), Aubrey Davis, Ryan O’Neil, Sheldon Bateau, Leston Paul (Sean De Silva 59th), Chad De Freitas (Daneil Cyrus 63rd), Stephen Knox (Isaiah Ferguson 69th},Daniel Joseph, Robert Primus, Chike Sullivan( Kevin Molino 80th) ,Micah Lewis.