U.S U-20 MNT beat host T&T on pk's to reach final

Penalties undo emotional under-20s.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).

The Trinidad and Tobago national under-20 football team can end their Egypt 2009 World Youth Championship campaign with a top three CONCACAF finish for the first time in 19 years if they overcome Honduras in the third place play off from 4 pm today at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.

But it would surely take a team talk of Barack Obama proportions to lift the teenagers after a highly emotional Friday evening in which midfielder Marcus Joseph lost his mother, Marilyn Peters, and his team lost their bid to be crowned CONCACAF champions.

The under-20 players were said to have been reduced to tears in their dressing room after a 4-3 semi-final loss to the United States on penalty kicks and, for the first time, no player accompanied head coach Zoran Vranes to the post-game press conference.

"It was very good to see that Trinidad and Tobago can play well under mental pressure and not just physical pressure," said Vranes. "I am very proud of the guys... And I would like to thank all of Trinidad and Tobago who supported us."

Vranes insisted his present youth team are the best he ever saw on local shores, while United States head coach Thomas Rongen conceded that his squad was pushed to the limit on Friday evening.

"(Trinidad and Tobago) were a worthy opponent and fully deserve to go to Egypt to represent CONCACAF," said the Netherlands-born coach.

Changes in the qualifying process have made it easier for CONCACAF teams to progress to FIFA tournaments in recent times. But it does not subtract from the efforts of Vranes' squad who married commendable fitness, athleticism and work ethic to their composure and technique on the ball.

The absence of Germany-based striker Jamal Gay, who missed the tournament with a hamstring injury, was a recurring topic and it is left to be seen if his finishing prowess can turn a good team into a great one. In Egypt, Trinidad and Tobago would be appearing at their fifth FIFA tournament and there is every suggestion that any lingering feelings of inferiority are dissolving fast.

Friday's semi-final against the United States, who have surpassed Mexico as CONCACAF's top dogs at youth and senior level, was meant to further prove the potential of Vranes' tykes-who, it must be said, were inherited from Anton Corneal's successful 2007 Under-17 World Cup squad.

But fate betrayed the host nation.

At approximately 5 pm, word reached the national camp that Marcus Joseph's 45-year-old mother, who had been ailing for some time with her kidneys and arthritis, had passed away.

The midfielder left the base immediately and was ruled out from the crucial fixture, while the technical staff tried to maintain the focus of the remaining players, who wore black armbands in a show of solidarity.

Trinidad and Tobago were already without the suspended Kevin Molino and Daneil Cyrus, which meant that captain Leston Paul and Sean de Silva were the only creative midfielders available for selection.

Paul toiled hard as usual but was rarely left unattended by his opponents and, late in extra time, needed treatment at the sidelines for cramp while de Silva did not meet his usual high standards as he missed the hosts' two best chances and was booked for a shocking challenge on US custodian Brian Perk.

In the subsequent shoot out, Perk denied de Silva and Paul to take the US into tonight's 7 pm final against Costa Rica.

"Diego Maradona and Roberto Baggio missed penalties in the World Cup," said Vranes. "There was great pressure on our guys."

The emotions gave way to tears on Friday night.

Vranes will do his utmost today to wring a final-for this competition, at least-lively performance from his charges in front of an increasingly adoring public.

Young Warriors fall on penalty kicks.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).

It was a disappointing, gut-wrenching feeling for the Trinidad and Tobago players when American goalkeeper Brian Perk gobbled up Leston Paul's penalty kick to give the USA Under-20 men's national team a 4-3 penalty-kicks victory and so earn them a spot in tonight's CONCACAF U-20 Championship final (8 p.m.) at the Marvin Lee Stadium (MLS), Macoya.

Also reaching the final were Costa Rica, who also played out a goalless draw with Honduras after extra-time, before prevailing 4-2 on spot kicks.

T&T's Young Warriors will battle for third spot against Honduras from 5 p.m. this evening at the MLS.

On Friday, they and the USA were inseparable after 120 scoreless minutes of regulation and extra-time in their semi-final. But when the spot kicks started, the local boys were leading 3-2 after their goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel stopped the shot from American striker Perica Marosevic. But then, keeper Perk came up big for the Americans, stopping weak efforts from T&T captain Paul and midfielder Sean De Silva. American coach Thomas Rongen commended his goalkeeper for his performance.

"The host country made it very hard for us in a game that could have gone either way but in the end, our goalkeeper made the difference for us tonight," he said.

"He came up with two excellent saves on two penalties for us to win it. I have to give Trinidad & Tobago a lot of credit for playing us straight up and trying to win the game just like we did over 120 minutes."

Amidst the tension, almost no one noticed the introduction of Aaron Maund, who two weeks ago was granted a change of Association by world football governing body FIFA after representing T&T at the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

Maund started in all three matches and played all but 16 minutes for T&T in the group phase in South Korea, but ironically, the Americans have used him for just eight minutes so far, as a substitute against El Salvador and then for the final 30 seconds in Friday's match against his former comrades.

Before he arrived, the game was level for the most part, although T&T came closest to winning it in open play when striker Juma Clarence struck the upright from 20 metres out in the 19th minute.

The Young Warriors made a big effort to win the game in the final 20 minutes of the regulation period, and had at least three good chances while Marosevic got the one clear-cut opportunity that fell to the Americans.

Midfielder De Silva twice had Perk at his mercy, first when the ball rebounded to him in the penalty area. Apparently expecting a defender to be on his back, De Silva rushed his shot and cleared the crossbar. And after picking up Qian Grovesnor's cross in the 82nd, De Silva's shot had the American keeper scrambling but the ball just went by the foot of the post. Those on hand also thought T&T substitute striker Marcus Joseph had scored for T&T in the 86th when he stripped a defender and hit a powerful left footer which flew by Perk and only just missed.

Marosevic's chance came in the 78th when he was picked out in a clear position down the centre of the penalty area, but keeper Samuel came up with a brilliant stop to fend the shot away. In the extra time period, neither team was able to make many inroads. Then T&T paid the penalty for wasted efforts earlier in the night.