Caledonia continued their miserable run in the CONCACAF Champions League as they experienced their heaviest defeat in the competition tonight at the hands of Mexican club, Deportivo Toluca.
They were soundly beaten 5-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in front of a handful of spectators. Toluca's goals were scored by Raúl Nava López (17', 67'), Carlos Esquivel (28'), Edy Germán Brambila (41'), and Antônio "Zinha" Naelson (72').
Caledonia's lone item was scored by recently signed Grenadian striker, Kithson "Bully" Bain, in the 46th minute. Their next CCL match is against Guatemalan club, CSD Comunicaciones, on September 25th.
Results
Toluca 5 v Caledonia 1
López 17 Kithson 45
Muhammad (27-OG)
Brambila 40
Zinha 55
López 66
Teams
Caledonia AIA: - 1.Shemel Louison, 2.Aubrey David, 3.Nuru A. Muhammad, 5.Akeem Thomas (Yellow 53), 6.Marcus Ambrose, 7.Stephan David (capt), 21.Densill Theobald, 20.Noel Williams (17.Akim Armstrong 63rd), 27.Nathan Lewis (25.Keron Bethelmy 72nd), 23.Jamal Gay (9.Keyon Edwards 66th), 18.Bain Kithson (Yellow 76).
Coach: - Jamaal Shabazz.
Toluca FC: - 1.Alfredo Talavera, 11.Carlos Esquivel (16.Oscar R. Rojas García 70th), 13.Héctor Acosta Quintero, 20.Miguel Á. Almazán Quiróz, 3.Fausto M. Pinto, 18.Xavier I. Baez, 19.Edy G. Brambila (10.Zinha 55th), 15.Antonio Ríos Martínez (5.Wilson Tiago 74th - Yellow 79), 26.Erbin A. Trejo Macías, 25.Daniel González Vega, 29.Raúl Nava López.
Coach: - José S. Cardozo.
Referee: - Valdin Legister.
Venue: - Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Video: - Caledonia AIA vs Toluca Highlights.
Standings
P W D L F A P
Toluca 3 3 0 0 10 3 9
Comunicaciones 2 1 0 1 4 2 3
Caledonia AIA 3 0 0 3 2 11 0
Toluca 5 v Caledonia 1
López 17 Kithson 45
Muhammad (27-OG)
Brambila 40
Zinha 55
López 66
Teams
Caledonia AIA: - 1.Shemel Louison, 2.Aubrey David, 3.Nuru A. Muhammad, 5.Akeem Thomas (Yellow 53), 6.Marcus Ambrose, 7.Stephan David (capt), 21.Densill Theobald, 20.Noel Williams (17.Akim Armstrong 63rd), 27.Nathan Lewis (25.Keron Bethelmy 72nd), 23.Jamal Gay (9.Keyon Edwards 66th), 18.Bain Kithson (Yellow 76).
Coach: - Jamaal Shabazz.
Toluca FC: - 1.Alfredo Talavera, 11.Carlos Esquivel (16.Oscar R. Rojas García 70th), 13.Héctor Acosta Quintero, 20.Miguel Á. Almazán Quiróz, 3.Fausto M. Pinto, 18.Xavier I. Baez, 19.Edy G. Brambila (10.Zinha 55th), 15.Antonio Ríos Martínez (5.Wilson Tiago 74th - Yellow 79), 26.Erbin A. Trejo Macías, 25.Daniel González Vega, 29.Raúl Nava López.
Coach: - José S. Cardozo.
Referee: - Valdin Legister.
Venue: - Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Video: - Caledonia AIA vs Toluca Highlights.
Standings
P W D L F A P
Toluca 3 3 0 0 10 3 9
Comunicaciones 2 1 0 1 4 2 3
Caledonia AIA 3 0 0 3 2 11 0
Toluca beats Caledonia 5-1 piñata style.
ttproleague.com.
Forward Raul Nava scored on either side of the break as Deportivo Toluca proved too hot for Caledonia AIA in a 5-1 rout over the Trinidad and Tobago club on Wednesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in their Group 6 Concacaf Champions League second leg match.
The win improved the Mexicans position at the top of the group with 9 points and a game in hand, ahead of Guatemala's CSD Comunicaciones (3 points and two games in hand), while Caledonia sits at the bottom without a point after three matches.
And while Toluca Head Coach Jose Saturnino Cardozo is confident of qualifying into the quarter-final round and already looks to that round, Caledonia Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz says it’s a learning experience for the T&T club.
“After suffering defeats in our first two (CCL) matches, then concede two early goals (tonight), I think the guys got deflated,” said the Caledonia coach during the post-match media session.
“I think it was more mental than it was physical or tactical. We've got to learn to play under a lot more pressure. We've got to go back to the drawing board and take from this Concacaf tournament what we could for our future progress and development."
Nava, who scored one in Toluca's 3-1 first leg win over the Morvant/Laventille club on August 6 at the Nemesio Diez, Mexico, opened the scoring on Wednesday for a 1-0 advantage by the 17th minute.
The 23 year old former Mexico U23 forward had the simple task of tucking in a right side cross after the Caledonia defense failed to tidy and initial effort.
Caledonia fell asleep in the 28th minute against a low Carlos Esquivel cross which slipped past everyone and into goalkeeper Shemel Louison's far netting for a 2-0 Toluca cushion.
A minute later Esquivel provided a decent ball into the area but Edy Brambila was inches off target.
Even left-back Erbin Trejo got into the action in the 35th minute hitting inches wide of the upper corner after picking up a pass by Xavier Baez.
Then in the 40th minute Brambila made it 3-0 for Toluca slamming into an exposed net after Lousion made a block-out against Baez.
Caledonia had a couple first half opportunities but new signing Kithson Bain failed to find the back of the net in the 10th minute after a quick run down the right and into the area hitting a miscued effort, and in the 32nd minute under challenge he poked wide of the upright from inside the six yard area from a Jamal Gay flicked-on pass.
And just as teammates Nathan Lewis, in the 16th minute, Densill Theobald, in the 38th minute, and Aubrey David, in the 45th minute, Bain had an ambitious crack at goal from distance in the 31st minute—all comfortable takes for Toluca goalie Alfredo Talavara.
Bain finally pegged one back seconds into the second half, reducing the Caledonia deficit 1-3.
The 31 year-old speedy former Tranmere Rovers player had the simple task of guiding in a loose ball from the six yard area after teammate Gay fumbled a low cross into the area by Caledonia's liveliest player on the night, Lewis.
But ten minutes later Toluca introduced Antonio Matias and the midfielder finished off where his teammates left out.
The pint-sized player forced Louison into a diving save in the 60th minute, and six minutes later set up Nava's second item.
Nava, who slid in short of opening the scoring in as early as the 12th minute, had the simple task of turning in Matias’ neat low pass into the six yard area for a 4-1 score. Matias then made it 5-1 in the 72nd minute by fitting a low strike from above the area, out of Louison's reach and into the net.
Caledonia debutant and goalscorer, Bain, who Shabazz believes will “light up the local TT Pro League”, looked short of match fitness in the second period and despite his late efforts, only earned himself a yellow card for diving in the 76th minute.
“We would take the positives out of this game that there were times we were able to get behind them, and even get the ball in the back of the net,” continued Shabazz.
“But the margin for error at Concacaf level is so slim, and the lack of experience in playing at this level of the game is showing …and we are paying dearly for errors made. It’s a lack of concentration at times, but all in all, it’s something we can learn from. We’ve got to stay positive and take the fact that while we have been scored upon …we have created chances to score. And I think all is not gloom and doom for us.
“I thought we gave them room to play and they had enough time to pick players out. We didn’t close down too well. And playing at home I thought we gave up more space than we did when we played them in Mexico City.”
Caledonia will return to domestic Digicel Pro League action against home team Central FC from 7pm on Saturday at the Ato Boldon, then travel to Guatemala to tackle Comunicaciones on Wednesday 25 September for its final group match.
Comunicaciones, which defeated Caledonia 3-0 in the first leg and lost to Toluca 2-1, will later meet the Mexicans on Wednesday 23 October to close off Group 6.
“(We) played very well and more or less controlled the game,” said Toluca coach Jose Saturnino Cardozo through a translator following his team’s comfortable victory. “Sometimes it seemed a bit dangerous but (we) had the speed and everything for the game and did a good job. I was a very well thought out plan and intelligent team. I am happy with the work that (we) have done.
“The team performed in the manner in which it should have. Even thought it wasn’t the starting team, the team that played was still a team that had the capacity and the ability to do what they needed to do. We had all confidence that they were able to perform and execute what they needed to do.”
ttproleague.com.
Forward Raul Nava scored on either side of the break as Deportivo Toluca proved too hot for Caledonia AIA in a 5-1 rout over the Trinidad and Tobago club on Wednesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in their Group 6 Concacaf Champions League second leg match.
The win improved the Mexicans position at the top of the group with 9 points and a game in hand, ahead of Guatemala's CSD Comunicaciones (3 points and two games in hand), while Caledonia sits at the bottom without a point after three matches.
And while Toluca Head Coach Jose Saturnino Cardozo is confident of qualifying into the quarter-final round and already looks to that round, Caledonia Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz says it’s a learning experience for the T&T club.
“After suffering defeats in our first two (CCL) matches, then concede two early goals (tonight), I think the guys got deflated,” said the Caledonia coach during the post-match media session.
“I think it was more mental than it was physical or tactical. We've got to learn to play under a lot more pressure. We've got to go back to the drawing board and take from this Concacaf tournament what we could for our future progress and development."
Nava, who scored one in Toluca's 3-1 first leg win over the Morvant/Laventille club on August 6 at the Nemesio Diez, Mexico, opened the scoring on Wednesday for a 1-0 advantage by the 17th minute.
The 23 year old former Mexico U23 forward had the simple task of tucking in a right side cross after the Caledonia defense failed to tidy and initial effort.
Caledonia fell asleep in the 28th minute against a low Carlos Esquivel cross which slipped past everyone and into goalkeeper Shemel Louison's far netting for a 2-0 Toluca cushion.
A minute later Esquivel provided a decent ball into the area but Edy Brambila was inches off target.
Even left-back Erbin Trejo got into the action in the 35th minute hitting inches wide of the upper corner after picking up a pass by Xavier Baez.
Then in the 40th minute Brambila made it 3-0 for Toluca slamming into an exposed net after Lousion made a block-out against Baez.
Caledonia had a couple first half opportunities but new signing Kithson Bain failed to find the back of the net in the 10th minute after a quick run down the right and into the area hitting a miscued effort, and in the 32nd minute under challenge he poked wide of the upright from inside the six yard area from a Jamal Gay flicked-on pass.
And just as teammates Nathan Lewis, in the 16th minute, Densill Theobald, in the 38th minute, and Aubrey David, in the 45th minute, Bain had an ambitious crack at goal from distance in the 31st minute—all comfortable takes for Toluca goalie Alfredo Talavara.
Bain finally pegged one back seconds into the second half, reducing the Caledonia deficit 1-3.
The 31 year-old speedy former Tranmere Rovers player had the simple task of guiding in a loose ball from the six yard area after teammate Gay fumbled a low cross into the area by Caledonia's liveliest player on the night, Lewis.
But ten minutes later Toluca introduced Antonio Matias and the midfielder finished off where his teammates left out.
The pint-sized player forced Louison into a diving save in the 60th minute, and six minutes later set up Nava's second item.
Nava, who slid in short of opening the scoring in as early as the 12th minute, had the simple task of turning in Matias’ neat low pass into the six yard area for a 4-1 score. Matias then made it 5-1 in the 72nd minute by fitting a low strike from above the area, out of Louison's reach and into the net.
Caledonia debutant and goalscorer, Bain, who Shabazz believes will “light up the local TT Pro League”, looked short of match fitness in the second period and despite his late efforts, only earned himself a yellow card for diving in the 76th minute.
“We would take the positives out of this game that there were times we were able to get behind them, and even get the ball in the back of the net,” continued Shabazz.
“But the margin for error at Concacaf level is so slim, and the lack of experience in playing at this level of the game is showing …and we are paying dearly for errors made. It’s a lack of concentration at times, but all in all, it’s something we can learn from. We’ve got to stay positive and take the fact that while we have been scored upon …we have created chances to score. And I think all is not gloom and doom for us.
“I thought we gave them room to play and they had enough time to pick players out. We didn’t close down too well. And playing at home I thought we gave up more space than we did when we played them in Mexico City.”
Caledonia will return to domestic Digicel Pro League action against home team Central FC from 7pm on Saturday at the Ato Boldon, then travel to Guatemala to tackle Comunicaciones on Wednesday 25 September for its final group match.
Comunicaciones, which defeated Caledonia 3-0 in the first leg and lost to Toluca 2-1, will later meet the Mexicans on Wednesday 23 October to close off Group 6.
“(We) played very well and more or less controlled the game,” said Toluca coach Jose Saturnino Cardozo through a translator following his team’s comfortable victory. “Sometimes it seemed a bit dangerous but (we) had the speed and everything for the game and did a good job. I was a very well thought out plan and intelligent team. I am happy with the work that (we) have done.
“The team performed in the manner in which it should have. Even thought it wasn’t the starting team, the team that played was still a team that had the capacity and the ability to do what they needed to do. We had all confidence that they were able to perform and execute what they needed to do.”
Take five: Mexico’s Toluca humiliates Caledonia
By Lasana liburd (Wired868)
Caledonia AIA has one game left in its 2013 CONCACAF Champions League campaign and one feels the “Eastern Stallions” might prefer doing something more fun if given the choice; like maybe going to the dentist.
It could not be more painful than facing the sort of spanking that Caledonia received in Port of Spain last night as the Morvant/Laventille-based team was routed 5-1 by visiting Mexico club, Toluca.
Long before the final whistle, Caledonia players were walking around with drooping shoulders waiting for the final whistle. The Toluca squad had stopped celebrating after its second goal and the tourists could not look more relaxed if they had their feet up at Maracas Bay.
It was, to be blunt, a poor advertisement for the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League and the Caribbean’s game.
Even before Toluca’s opener, Caledonia’s professionalism had already been called into question.
Grenada international striker Kithson “Bully” Bain made his Caledonia debut last night in a number 10 shirt. However, the team list suggested that Bain should have been wearing the number 18.
Such errors are not infrequent at Pro League level; but this was not the Pro League. CONCACAF officials spotted the error and Bain was ordered to leave the pitch and sat for about four minutes on the running track until a club representative had found him the right kit.
Arguably, it was a fitting analogy for Caledonia’s readiness for its CONCACAF test last night.
Defensively, Caledonia was not compact enough and failed to press in numbers while, at the opposite end, the Stallions seemed to owe much of their attacking thrust to individualistic surges and were unable to maintain sustained pressure on the visitors.
Toluca, patient and methodical, picked off its naïve opponent without ever leaving first gear. Side to side, the visitors passed the ball breezily while their attackers searched for gaps. Then, they struck with menace.
Toluca’s opening item was a case in point. There were three offensive players within 10 yards of each other to attack a deep, right side cross. Caledonia goalkeeper Shemel Louison, another Grenada international, pushed Daniel Gonzales’ header against the upright but Edy Brambilla was first to the rebound and his pass was prodded over the goal line by forward Raul Nava.
Toluca doubled its advantage in the 27th minute as Caledonia defender Nuru Muhammad inadvertently deflected a Carlos Esquivel cross past his own goalkeeper and Brambila was almost too embarrassed to celebrate the third goal in the 40th minute after Louison spilled the ball.
Bain came closest to scoring for the host team when he stabbed just wide in the 32nd minute after a flick from Jamal Gay. And, seconds into the second half, the “Spice Islander” did add some flavour to the contest as he knocked in from close range after a build-up that involved Nathan Lewis and Gay.
There was a roar of hope from the 200-odd supporters and Bain later had a fair penalty shout in the second half too. But, in truth, the game was long buried.
Nava got a second in the 66th minute after another Louison fumble before veteran midfielder Sinha—or Zinha, as he was known in his native Brazil—completed the score summary with Toluca’s fifth in the 71st minute.
The result means that Caledonia has won two, drawn one and lost seven of its last 10 competitive matches, which dates back to the club’s Lucozade Sport Goal Shield semi-final loss to DIRECTV W Connection in April. During that period, the Stallions have scored 10 goals while conceding 26.
On Saturday night, Caledonia takes on Central FC at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Who knows what effect another loss can have on coach Jamaal Shabazz’s men.
Caledonia will then complete its Champions League assignments next Wednesday away to Guatemalan team CSD Comunicaciones, which whipped the Stallions 3-0 in Port of Spain last month.
At this rate, the Caledonia players might feel more comfortable trying to avoid borderline conflicts in Morvant/Laventille than doing battle on the football field.
(Teams)
Caledonia AIA (4-4-2): 1.Shemel Louison (GK); 2.Aubrey David, 5.Akeem Thomas, 3.Nuru Muhammad, 20.Noel Williams (17.Akim Armstrong 61); 27.Nathan Lewis (25.Keron Bethelmy 71), 21.Densill Theobald, 7.Stephan David (captain), 6.Marcus Ambrose; 18.Kithson Bain, 23.Jamal Gay (9.Keyon Edwards 66).
Unused substitutes: 33.Glenroy Samuel (GK), 11.Abdallah Phillips, 12.Kareem Joseph, 22.Miguel Romeo.
Coach: Jamaal Shabazz
Toluca (3-4-1-2): 1.Alfredo Talavera (GK); 13.Hector Acosta, 20.Miguel Almazan, 3.Fausto Pinto; 11.Carlos Esquivel (16.Oscar Rojas 70), 15.Antonio Rojas (5.Wilson Tiago 74), 18.Xavier Baez, 26.Erbin Trejo; 19.Edy Brambila (10.Sinha); 29.Raul Nava, 25.Daniel Gonzales.
Unused substitutes: 22.Cesar Lozano (GK), 4.Paulo Da Silva, 9.Juan Carlos Cacho, 23.Edgar Benitez.
Coach: Jose Cardozo
CONCACAF Champions League
(Wed Sep 18)
Caledonia 1 (Kithson Bain 46), Toluca 5 (Raul Nava 17, 66, Nuru Muhammad 27 OG, Edy Brambila 40, Sinha 71) at Hasely Crawford Stadium
(Thu Sep 19)
DIRECTV W Connection vs Arabe Unido, 8 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
By Lasana liburd (Wired868)
Caledonia AIA has one game left in its 2013 CONCACAF Champions League campaign and one feels the “Eastern Stallions” might prefer doing something more fun if given the choice; like maybe going to the dentist.
It could not be more painful than facing the sort of spanking that Caledonia received in Port of Spain last night as the Morvant/Laventille-based team was routed 5-1 by visiting Mexico club, Toluca.
Long before the final whistle, Caledonia players were walking around with drooping shoulders waiting for the final whistle. The Toluca squad had stopped celebrating after its second goal and the tourists could not look more relaxed if they had their feet up at Maracas Bay.
It was, to be blunt, a poor advertisement for the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League and the Caribbean’s game.
Even before Toluca’s opener, Caledonia’s professionalism had already been called into question.
Grenada international striker Kithson “Bully” Bain made his Caledonia debut last night in a number 10 shirt. However, the team list suggested that Bain should have been wearing the number 18.
Such errors are not infrequent at Pro League level; but this was not the Pro League. CONCACAF officials spotted the error and Bain was ordered to leave the pitch and sat for about four minutes on the running track until a club representative had found him the right kit.
Arguably, it was a fitting analogy for Caledonia’s readiness for its CONCACAF test last night.
Defensively, Caledonia was not compact enough and failed to press in numbers while, at the opposite end, the Stallions seemed to owe much of their attacking thrust to individualistic surges and were unable to maintain sustained pressure on the visitors.
Toluca, patient and methodical, picked off its naïve opponent without ever leaving first gear. Side to side, the visitors passed the ball breezily while their attackers searched for gaps. Then, they struck with menace.
Toluca’s opening item was a case in point. There were three offensive players within 10 yards of each other to attack a deep, right side cross. Caledonia goalkeeper Shemel Louison, another Grenada international, pushed Daniel Gonzales’ header against the upright but Edy Brambilla was first to the rebound and his pass was prodded over the goal line by forward Raul Nava.
Toluca doubled its advantage in the 27th minute as Caledonia defender Nuru Muhammad inadvertently deflected a Carlos Esquivel cross past his own goalkeeper and Brambila was almost too embarrassed to celebrate the third goal in the 40th minute after Louison spilled the ball.
Bain came closest to scoring for the host team when he stabbed just wide in the 32nd minute after a flick from Jamal Gay. And, seconds into the second half, the “Spice Islander” did add some flavour to the contest as he knocked in from close range after a build-up that involved Nathan Lewis and Gay.
There was a roar of hope from the 200-odd supporters and Bain later had a fair penalty shout in the second half too. But, in truth, the game was long buried.
Nava got a second in the 66th minute after another Louison fumble before veteran midfielder Sinha—or Zinha, as he was known in his native Brazil—completed the score summary with Toluca’s fifth in the 71st minute.
The result means that Caledonia has won two, drawn one and lost seven of its last 10 competitive matches, which dates back to the club’s Lucozade Sport Goal Shield semi-final loss to DIRECTV W Connection in April. During that period, the Stallions have scored 10 goals while conceding 26.
On Saturday night, Caledonia takes on Central FC at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Who knows what effect another loss can have on coach Jamaal Shabazz’s men.
Caledonia will then complete its Champions League assignments next Wednesday away to Guatemalan team CSD Comunicaciones, which whipped the Stallions 3-0 in Port of Spain last month.
At this rate, the Caledonia players might feel more comfortable trying to avoid borderline conflicts in Morvant/Laventille than doing battle on the football field.
(Teams)
Caledonia AIA (4-4-2): 1.Shemel Louison (GK); 2.Aubrey David, 5.Akeem Thomas, 3.Nuru Muhammad, 20.Noel Williams (17.Akim Armstrong 61); 27.Nathan Lewis (25.Keron Bethelmy 71), 21.Densill Theobald, 7.Stephan David (captain), 6.Marcus Ambrose; 18.Kithson Bain, 23.Jamal Gay (9.Keyon Edwards 66).
Unused substitutes: 33.Glenroy Samuel (GK), 11.Abdallah Phillips, 12.Kareem Joseph, 22.Miguel Romeo.
Coach: Jamaal Shabazz
Toluca (3-4-1-2): 1.Alfredo Talavera (GK); 13.Hector Acosta, 20.Miguel Almazan, 3.Fausto Pinto; 11.Carlos Esquivel (16.Oscar Rojas 70), 15.Antonio Rojas (5.Wilson Tiago 74), 18.Xavier Baez, 26.Erbin Trejo; 19.Edy Brambila (10.Sinha); 29.Raul Nava, 25.Daniel Gonzales.
Unused substitutes: 22.Cesar Lozano (GK), 4.Paulo Da Silva, 9.Juan Carlos Cacho, 23.Edgar Benitez.
Coach: Jose Cardozo
CONCACAF Champions League
(Wed Sep 18)
Caledonia 1 (Kithson Bain 46), Toluca 5 (Raul Nava 17, 66, Nuru Muhammad 27 OG, Edy Brambila 40, Sinha 71) at Hasely Crawford Stadium
(Thu Sep 19)
DIRECTV W Connection vs Arabe Unido, 8 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium