Jabari Mitchell scored twice and Trinidad & Tobago captured its first win of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, defeating 10-man Aruba 5-1 on Sunday at the National Stadium in Jamaica.
With the victory, the young Soca Warriors took at least temporary possession of first place in Group A with four points from two games. Later in the day, Panama (1-0-0, 3 points) will meet the United States (0-1-0, 1 point), followed by an encounter between host Jamaica (0-1-0, 1 point) and Guatemala (0-1-0, 1 point).
Similar to its 2-2 opening draw with the Jamaicans on Friday, Trinidad jumped out to an early lead.
Mitchell struck for his and the match’s first goal in the third minute. After running onto a long ball down the right wing, Aikim Andrews squared a pass towards the edge of the six-yard for the W Connection rising star, who slotted his shot off goalkeeper Janmarc Antersun and over the line.
The Trinidadians doubled their advantage in the 16th minute thanks to a well-worked set piece. Stationed near the left side in Aruba’s end, Mitchell made it appear as if he was going to pump his free kick into the box. Suddenly, Levi Garcia – from a deep position – made a sprint down the sideline and Mitchell cleverly rolled the ball in his direction. The unmarked Garcia centered on the ground to Aikim Andrews for a simple tap-in. It was the 18-year-old’s second goal in as many games.
Aruba conceded a penalty kick and was reduced to 10 men before 30 minutes elapsed. Joel Geerman was issued a straight red card for taking down Andrews in the box from behind. Kadeem Corbin converted the subsequent penalty in the 29th minute to make it 3-0.
Looking to exceed Panama’s 4-0 win over Aruba on Friday, Trinidad continued to attack after the break.
In the 57th minute, Duane Muckette increased the Caribbean champion’s lead. The University of South Florida standout, realizing that he was not going to be closed down, fired home from 30-yards out with his right foot.
Trinidad was awarded a second penalty in the 77th minute as Garcia was tripped in the left side of the box by David Dubero. On this occasion, Mitchell stepped up to take the kick, burying it into the left side of the net in the next minute.
Duncan Homoet made history in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, scoring Aruba’s first-ever CONCACAF Under-20 Championship goal.
Trinidad returns to action on Wednesday against Guatemala, while Aruba will look to bounce back against the United States the same day.
Full Results
T&T 5 v Aruba 1
Mitchell 3 Homoet 93
Andrews 16
Corbin 29-Pen
Muckette 58
Mitchell 78-Pen
Panama 1 v USA 0
Cardenas 79
Guatemala 1 v Jamaica 0
Ruiz 27
Teams
Trinidad and Tobago: 1.Johan Welch; 2.Shannon Gomez (capt), 3.Martieon Watson, 13.Brendon Creed (Yellow 65), 19.Maurice Ford (Yellow 75); 6.Duane Muckette (17.Akeem Humphrey 66th - Yellow 69), 8.Neveal Hackshaw; 15.Aikim Andrews (7.Akeem Garcia 46th), 10.Jabari Mitchell, 11.Levi Garcia; 9.Kadeem Corbin (Yellow 29) (14.Matthew Woo Ling 55th - Yellow 64).
Unused substitutes: 21.Javon Sample (GK), 4.Jesus Perez, 5.Leland Archer, 12.Kishun Seecharan, 16.Ricardo John, 18.Kevon Goddard.
Coach: Derek King.
Aruba: 1.Jeanmarc Antersijn; 2.Niels Ridderstap, 19.David Dubero, 5.Joel Geerman (Red 27), 3.Jefferson Vegas (capt); 4.Nickenson Paul (Yellow 45); 14.Marcel Kock (7.Youri Wernet 71st), 8.Gregorio Van Der Biezen (15.Aidan Martha 82nd), 10.Walter Bennett (16.Franklin Cabaracas 80th), 12.Jeanpierre Van Der Linden; 9.Duncan Homoet.
Unused substitutes: 20.Brandon Maimaceda (GK), 6.Johnatan Ruiz, 11.Ricky Hodge, 13.Carl Geerman, 17.Andrew Valois-Smith, 18.Kevin Tromp.
Coach: Arent Bekhof.
Referee: Castro.
VIDEO: - Trinidad & Tobago vs Aruba Highlights
Standings - Group-A
P W D L F A Pts
Panama 2 2 0 0 5 0 6
T&T 2 1 1 0 7 3 4
Guatemala 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
Jamaica 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
USA 2 0 1 1 1 2 1
Aruba 2 0 0 2 1 9 0
Stats
T&T v Aruba
14 Shots 4
2 Assists 1
6 Corner kicks 2
2 Offsides 1
14 Fouls 16
13 Clearances 26
3 Recoveries 8
Upcoming Group-A Games
Wednesday 14 January 2015
National Stadium, Kingston
Guatemala vs Trinidad and Tobago—4 pm
Aruba vs United States—6:30 pm
Jamaica vs Panama—9 pm
Hit the Dutchmen: T&T spanks Aruba 5-1.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).
It was easy like Sunday morning. Of course, it was a 3 pm (Jamaican time) kick off today—if you want to nitpick—but the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 team found Aruba to be every bit as straightforward as US bard Lionel Richie’s classic tune.
At the final whistle in the CONCACAF Under-20 Group A fixture, the young “Soca Warriors” were four goals clear of their Dutch neighbours and the 5-1 win meant their Road to New Zealand had some momentum again.
On Friday night, the Warriors looked to have made two steps forward and then two steps back as they squandered a two-goal lead to end 2-2 with hosts Jamaica.
But Aruba possessed no such powers of recovery and it did not help that the inexperienced outfit was reduced to 10 players after just 26 minutes following a clumsy challenge by defender Joel Geerman on Aikim Andrews. Aruba was already two goals behind by then and Kadeem Corbin’s penalty made it 3-0 for T&T.
“After 15 minutes, the game was over due to big mistakes by my defenders,” said Aruba coach and Netherlands native, Arent Bekhof.
Truth be told, the red card was, arguably, a tad harsh from Bahamian referee Randolph Harris. And, bizarrely, Harris followed it up by booking Corbin for celebrating his penalty by gesturing to Aruba custodian Jeanmarc Antersijn with a finger on his lips.
Harris was not shy about taking the names of Trinidad and Tobago players in his little black, book as left back Maurice Ford and substitutes Akeem Humphrey and Matthew Woo Ling were also cautioned.
In a tournament with five group matches, those yellow cards could eventually haunt the Warriors, who already saw Jesus Perez booked in Friday’s Group A opener. But at least Trinidad and Tobago got the important business done.
“I will give them a six (out of 10) today,” said Trinidad and Tobago head coach Derek King, “because I thought they could do much better.”
It did not speak well of Aruba’s chances in Jamaica. Today was their second successive spanking after a 4-0 loss to Panama on Friday. But it is not inconceivable that the Dutch-speaking islanders might be a tougher opponent later in the competition.
Eight members of the Aruban squad were flown in from the Netherlands along with new coach, Bekhof, just two weeks before their opening CONCACAF fixture. They are essentially learning on the job.
Today’s lesson was a humbling one, though.
Just three minutes after kick off, the Warriors were already celebrating as Andrews crossed from the right flank for Jabari Mitchell to open the score summary. Some more alert wing play saw Trinidad and Tobago double its lead in the 15th minute as Mitchell released Levi Garcia with a quick free kick down the left and his cross was prodded over the goalline by Andrews.
Mitchell and Garcia were among three changes to the T&T starting line-up today along with Ford as King shuffled his pack to manage his team’s energy levels. It did not help the Warriors that today’s game was played with the sun high overhead. In fact, three of Trinidad and Tobago’s five group matches will be contested in bright sunlight while Jamaica and the United States play all of their fixtures under lights in the cool of the evening.
But the Warriors, who have struggled to get everything from practice games to visas, are probably accustomed to doing things the hard way by now.
They took out their frustrations on Aruba.
Duane Muckette, who played deeper in a holding midfield role today, got Trinidad and Tobago’s fourth with a stunning strike into the top corner from distance after Aruba cleared a Woo Ling corner in the 58th minute but was too slow to apply pressure on the US-based midfielder.
And Mitchell got his second of the match from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after Garcia was chopped down in the area. By then, King had already withdrawn Andrews, Corbin and Muckette with Wednesday’s showdown against Guatemala in mind.
Aruba did get a clever consolation goal on a counter attack in stoppage time as lively striker Duncan Homoet twisted Gomez inside and out before surprising Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Johan Welch at his near post.
There is cause for concern too as Andrews hobbled to the dressing room with his right ankle heavily strapped while four Warriors are now booked. But there was plenty to smile about at today’s Dutch party.
Hopefully, Trinidad and Tobago has held something in reserve for Guatemala on Wednesday.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Johan Welch (GK); 2.Shannon Gomez (captain), 3.Martieon Watson, 13.Brendon Creed, 19.Maurice Ford; 6.Duane Muckette (17.Akeem Humphrey 66), 8.Neveal Hackshaw; 15.Aikim Andrews (7.Akeem Garcia 46), 10.Jabari Mitchell, 11.Levi Garcia; 9.Kadeem Corbin (14.Matthew Woo Ling 55).
Unused substitutes: 21.Javon Sample (GK), 4.Jesus Perez, 5.Leland Archer, 12.Kishun Seecharan, 16.Ricardo John, 18.Kevon Goddard.
Coach: Derek King
Aruba (4-1-4-1): 1.Jeanmarc Antersijn (GK); 2.Niels Ridderstap, 19.David Dubero, 5.Joel Geerman, 3.Jefferson Vegas; 4.Nickenson Paul; 14.Marcel Kock (7.Youri Wernet 71), 8.Gregorio Van Der Biezen (15.Aidan Martha 82), 10.Walter Bennett (16.Franklin Cabaracas 80), 12.Jeanpierre Van Der Linden; 9.Duncan Homoet.
Unused substitutes: 20.Brandon Maimaceda (GK), 6.Johnatan Ruiz, 11.Ricky Hodge, 13.Carl Geerman, 17.Andrew Valois-Smith, 18.Kevin Tromp.
Coach: Arent Bekhof
Referee: Randolph Harris (Bahamas).