Despite losing their opening match 4-0 to Uruguay at the ongoing Pan American Games on Monday, Trinidad and Tobago Men’s Under 23 head coach Zoran Vranes is backing his team to come back strongly in their remaining matches against Paraguay and Mexico.
Fabricia Duarte opened the scoring in the 5th minute after goalkeeper Javon Sample failed to claim on a corner kick.
Uruguay would double their lead in the 20th when Fererico Ricca headed home from a corner. Nicolas Albarracin then struck a good one which beat Sample to put Uruguay 3-0 ahead on the half hour mark.
Alvin Jones, who would later be ejected in the 59th minute, came closest for T&T with a deflected effort before the break.
Brian Lozano then completed the rout with a free kick strike in the 68th minute.
T&T got more into the match after the break and started to see a bit more of the ball but there was not much offering to trouble Uruguay on the day.
Vranes conceded that his opponents were too much over the 90 minutes.
“We faced very strong opponents and they very inspired,” Vranes told TTFA Media.
“Their team has a lot of experience and with players from the Under 20 World Cup. We were missing some key players like Corbin and Winchester who are with the senior team. But it was a good exercise because these are the level of matches that will be good for the players at this age.
“We are getting a good period together here with the training and of course these matches will come in very good for us. Hopefully the team can grow and the players will benefit from it. I expect we will give a better showing in the next two matches,” Vranes added.
Paraguay and Mexico drew 1-1 in the other Group B game on Monday while Brazil defeated Canada 4-1 and Panama beat Peru 2-1 a day earlier in Group A action.
T&T’s Men will face Paraguay on Friday while the Women take on Colombia on Tuesday in Hamilton.
Results
Uruguay 4 v T&T 0
Formiliano 6
Ricca 20
Albarracin 31
Lozano 69
Teams
Trinidad & Tobago: - 18.Jovan Sample; 2.Shannon Gomez (Yellow 88), 16.Alvin Jones (capt) [Red Card 59], 3.Maurice Ford (5.Dario Holmes 54th), 4.Jesus Perez, 8.Tristan Hodge; 15.Neil Benjamin Jr. (17.Aikim Andrews 37th), 10.Duane Muckette (12.Xavier Rajpaul 73rd), 9.Nathaniel Garcia (Yellow 69), 6.Neveal Hackshaw; 13.Ricardo John.
Unused substitutes: - 1.Montell Joseph (GK), 7.Jomal Williams, 11.Shackiel Henry, 14.Jelani Felix.
Coach: - Zoran Vranes.
Uruguay: - 1.Guillermo De Amores; 2.Sebastian Gorga (Yellow 62) (4.Paolo Lemos 73rd), 3.Federico Ricca, 5.Edgardo Schetino (11.Juan Gonzalez 73rd), 6.Fabricio Formiliano (capt), 9.Junior Arias, 10.Michael Santos, 15.Fernando Gorriaran, 16.Nicolas Albarracin (7.Facundo Castro 79th), 17.Mathias Suarez, 18.Brian Lozano.
Coach: - Fabián Machado.
Referee: - Oscar Reyna (Guatemala).