Trinidad and Tobago's National Under 20 footballers received another stern lesson on their ongoing international warm-up tour but their first on African soil, as they were handed a 3-0 defeat by Nigerian club team Amac FC at the Abuja National Stadium last evening.
Despite suffering yet another defeat on tour thus far, Vranes refused to be harsh on his players.
"It's never nice to lose a game and as you have seen we have lost all our matches so far but for me, the performance is important and today I don't think we could fault the players or be disappointed with the game. The Nigerians were very good and they gave us a very good test.
This is the kind of match we want all the time because it could be very easy to play against teams where we could win the matches. We are learning more with every game these days," Vranes told TTFF Media afterwards.
Nigerian club downs U-20s in Abuja.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 20 footballers received another stern lesson on their ongoing international warm up tour but their first on African soil as they were handed a 3-0 defeat by Nigerian club team Amac FC at the Abuja National Stadium on Friday evening.
Playing on a wet evening in the Nigerian capital, the T&T boys turned in a better second half performance after trailing 2-0 at the break against the home side which comprised a mixture of senior and Under 20 players. Amac are the Abuja FA Cup champions and were eager to show up themselves up against the visiting 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Cup finalists. They were T&T’s opponents on the evening and not Kano Pillars are previously mentioned.
The home team’s excitement over the encounter was evident as several of the players, technical staff and family members rushed for photographs with the T&T head coach Zoran Vranes and the T&T players after the 90 minutes.
Despite suffering yet another defeat on tour thus far and with possibly their toughest encounter to come against Nigeria’s National Under 20 team on May 12, Vranes refused to be harsh on his players.
“It’s never nice to lose a game and as you have seen we have lost all our matches so far but for me, the performance is important and today I don’t think we could fault the players or be disappointed with the game. The Nigerians were very good and they gave us a very good test. This is the kind of matches we want all the time because it could be very easy to play against teams where we could win the matches. We are learning more with every game these days,” Vranes told TTFF Media afterwards.
Abac FC went ahead in the second minute of play, surprising the visitors with some with some quick accurate passing which led to Joseph Anntin collecting and rushing a shot off past goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel.
A minute later T&T tried to hit back but Jean Luc Rochford should have done better but rather flicked his effort over bar from a good position on the left of penalty area.
Amac doubled their advantage in the 24th and there was nothing Samuel could do to prevent it. Emma Oscanaya rifled a free kick from 25 yards out into the right side of the net and the Nigerians made their way to the corner flag to celebrate in dancing fashion.
Starting forward Trent Lougheed went close with a header from Curtis Gonzales’ right side cross before the break.
T&T started the second half in much higher gear than the first and pressed forward in attempt at pulling one back but Amac got their third item against the run of play in the 58th minute when Samuel advanced off his line to block Ben Yakwaen’s low push but Batura Xeno slotted the rebound home.
T&T went closest on 60 minutes when a powerfully taken left footed free kick from the edge of the box by Uriah Bentick came back off the right post. Moments before Qian Grosvenor had his effort saved low down. Substitute striker Juma Clarence also tested goalie Alex Derlui from a tight angle in the 85th minute.
“We played against an experienced team and you can see the strength of the Nigerians. I felt we had a good run, especially in the second half. We have two more games here and we are looking forward to it to see some more of where we are at this time. We are fighting more and more with each game,” Vranes concluded.