National U20s end campaign with a win as:
BOUNCING BACK from an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the United States junior team, the T&T Under 20 squad mowed down the US Virgin Islands yesterday in a 3-0 trouncing at their final group match at the CONCACAF U20 Championships.
The win comes as redemption to their brutal 6 - 1 loss against the United States, and gave them an added three points to put the team in second place in their group with nine overall points, but it was not enough to take them to the next stage, as only the group winners would qualify to advance.
Nikel Orr opened the scoring in the first minute of play,at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, capitalising on an incisive left field pass which outpaced Virgin Island defenders. Orr placed the ball to the right side of the goal, leaving goalie Connor Querrard flat-footed.
The team tried to reproduce the magic for the remainder of the first half by making more attacking plays on the left field, but were unable to get the same result.
The pace picked up in the second half with T&T dominating play, and the Virgin Islands doing the majority of defending.
The defenders’ resolve was eventually broken in the 77th minute, when substitute Isiah Lee put the ball past the keeper once again, after it was fed to him from a cross ball.
Minutes before the final whistle, midfielder Che Benny also beat the keeper.
He shot a rocket from the top of the 18-yard box, which was too hot for the goalie to handle. The ball slipped through Querrard’s fingers for a third goal. The under-20 team will return home on Monday.
Teams
Trinidad and Tobago: 20.Jabari Brice (GK); 18.Kerdell Sween, 5.Justin Homer (Yellow 22) (7.Mark Ramdeen 74), 2.Mikel Mieres (8.Jabarry Francis 57), 17.Matthew Beal, 10.Judah Garcia, 15.John-Paul Rochford, 12.Kishon Hackshaw, 11.Che Benny, 13.Nickel Orr (6.Isaiah Lee 46 - Yellow 68), 9.Jaydon Prowell.
Unused substitutes: 1.Denzil Smith (GK), 3.Derron John, 4.Jerrin Jackie, 14.Ethan Bonaparte, 16.Luke Singh, 19.Shaqkeem Joseph.
Coach: Russell Latapy.
USVI: 1.Connor Querrard, 10.Humberto Delgado III, 3.Orion Mills (Yellow 35), 15.Grant Farrell, 20.John Engerman, 6.Ramesses McGuiness (Yellow 90), 16.Rakeem M. Joseph (17.N. Seidon Thomas 88), 9.Jett Blaschka (capt) (Yellow 45), 11.Quinn Farrell (Yellow 32) (12.Jimson St Louis 85), 2.Alfred Harris (19.De Vaunte Moses 78), 18.Nikhil Verna.
Coach: Joseph Limeburner.
Highlights: U.S. Virgin Islands 0 - 3 Trinidad and Tobago