Trinidad and Tobago’s Under 15 footballers will have to settle for a battle for third place with Jamaica after succumbing to Guatemala 2-1 in the second semi-final of the CFU Under 15 Youth Cup at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday.
The Guatemalans scored two second half goals for the come from behind win and will now meet the second guest team Canada in Saturday’s final after they pulled off a workmanlike 4-2 win in the other semi final contest at same venue.
Guatemala equalized in the 56th minute through David Aroche and got the winner in the 64th minute from Angelo Paddila as they danced and sang with emotion, dedicated yet another victory to injured goalkeeper Jorge Velasquez who was resting at the Cocorite Community Hospital a few miles away in the company of his mother.
The match attracted the largest turn out of the tournament so far and the fans were treated to some competitive football and a spirited display from both teams. But the Guatemalans proved be stronger on the evening.
After starting with more purpose, stringing their passes around and playing with pace and composure, their backs were pushed against the wall when Brandon Rupert struck in the 5th minute to put T&T ahead.
Sean De Silva managed to stick a foot in to see the ball through to Daneil Cyrus on the right side and his deep cross met a lunging Rupert as his header beat the goalie to send the T&T fans into a frenzy. It was just the start T&T needed to cool off the Guatemalans.
But Ken Elie’s team had to count themselves lucky not to concede in the 17th minute when Byron De La Cruz’s left foot lob banged off the cross bar with goalie Jesse Fullerton in no man’s land.
Guatemala continued to press and were particularly effective with their set plays from the flanks as Dagoberto Arriola and Aroche sent some teasing balls in to the T&T penalty box.
Arriola saw an effort whistle past the right post as the teams went into the break with the homeside ahead 1-0.
An early goal was needed again for T&T and it almost came a minute after the restart when substitute Daniel Joseph made a run into the box only to have his low shot saved.
Playmaker De Silva didn’t cause much problems in this game and he was pushed into the forward line by Elie as the half started and later replaced by Chad De Freitas who would go on to squander a couple chances for his team.
The equalizer came in the 56th minute when Aroche collected and beat two defenders, keeping his composure in the process to shoot past Fullerton and the entire Guatemalan bench was on their feet rushing to celebrate the strike.
T&T didn’t fall back too much though and pressed for a go ahead goal but it would be Guatemala taking over instead.
With 64 minutes showing on the scoreboard, Padilla was found unmarked in the box and wasted no time before dispatching the ball home for a 2-1 lead.
The crowd got more into the match and with their cheers, T&T went all out for it.
De Freitas saw his effort well blocked out by the ‘keeper in the 65th minute and Sheldon Bateau saw his curling free kick on the right go inches wide of the far post.
As the 90 approached, De Silva, after getting through following a no offside call in favour of T&T, decided to play the ball to a teammate with the goal open and the ball was pushed too far in the process.
Then the Guatemalan goalie pulled off the save of the match in the final minute to push over Bateau’s power header from a right side corner.