Trinidad and Tobago’s Under 17 Men’s Team once again showed their ability to produce a strong show of resilience and ability to bounce back but it was not enough on Tuesday night as they went down 3-2 to Jamaica in their closing Group A fixture in the Caribbean Football Union Finals at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Down 2-0 at half time and in a similar situation to that of their previous encounter against Bermuda, T&T fought themselves back into the affair to level the scores at 2-2 but the “Reggae Boyz” were just too good on the night.
T&T finished Group A in third place with three points behind winners Haiti (seven points) and Jamaica (seven points). Haiti drubbed Bermuda 5-0 in Tuesday’s earlier match in Couva.
T&T must now await the results of Group B’s closing games on Wednesday. If Suriname loses to Cuba by two or more goals, T&T can still advance to the CONCACAF Final phase as the best third place team from the two groups.
On Tuesday night, a double by Raewin Senior in the 13th and 76th minutes and another item by Nicque Daley in the 36th minute did the job for the visitors. But a stubborn T&T outfit didn’t give in and skipper Jayden Prowell levelled the scores in the 57th minute after substitute Nion Lammy had pulled a goal back three minutes into the second half.
T&T had a somewhat sluggish start but soon found their footing after Jamaica pounced for the 1-0 lead.
A good combination between Damani Osei and Nicque Daley, led to a ball through for Senior who blasted past goalkeeper Emmanuel John from 12 yards out.
T&T had a couple good efforts near the half hour mark through Che Benny but Jamaica kept their advantage which they would double when Daley headed home from close up.
After rallying back and leaving their opponents on the blackfoot for long periods in the second half, T&T failed to finish the job and Jamaica would have the final say when Damani Osei’s left-sided cross found a lurking Senior and he made no mistake, shooting low past John for the winner.
T&T also lost to Jamaica, 5-1 in their previous meeting at this level, that time at the CONCACAF Final round in Honduras in 2015.
T&T Line up – Emmanuel John (GK), Kerdell Sween, Jesse Williams, Brandon Semper (Nion Lammy 38th), Isaiah Hudson, Jodel Brown (John-Paul Rochford 84th), Jaydon Prowell, Che Benny (Luke Singh 74th), Jerrin Jackie, Keishon Hackshaw, Nickel Orr
Subs not used: Keon Boney, Tyrike Andrews, Tyrese Bailey, Omar Da Naia, Jonathan Oddette, Elijah Shade
Jamaica Line up – Tajay Griffiths (GK) , Kendall Edwards, Damani Osei, Nickashe Murray, Cobi Atkinson, Kimmani Gibbons , Blake White (Jeremy Verley 53rd), Renato Campbell, Nickque Daley (Chad Letts 65th), Raewin Senior, Kaheem Parris (Jordan Petrekin 78th)
Subs not used: Daniel Russell, Cal-Wayne Allen, Horace Ramsay, Jamari Morrison, Omar Thompson
Referee: Trevor Taylor (Barbados)