Trinidad and Tobago secured its first point at the 2022 Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship when it played out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Haiti in Group F action at the Estadio Morazan, San Pedro Sula on Sunday.
Nathaniel James gave T&T the perfect start the 2nd minute as Angus Eve’s men looked to build on the bright start. But Haiti settled soon after and begun to see more of the ball as the half progressed.
T&T, playing in its second kit, grey colours as selected and submitted to Concacaf, was skippered by Minnesota United’s Molik Khan.
Haiti would find the equalizer in the 30th when Watz Leazard nailed a rebound after goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham saved the initial attempt. Kaihim Thomas restored Trinidad & Tobago’s lead in the 43rd with a perfectly executed curling free kick from the edge of the area after James was fouled. But Haiti hit back soon after when 2022 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield Best Young Player Award winner Steevenson Jeudy equalized in the 45’ from the penalty spot for a 2-2 halftime score.
It was just as intense in the second half, with Jeudy scoring again in the 53’ to give Haiti their first lead of the match at 3-2, but back came Trinidad & Tobago and goals from substitute Real Gill in the70’ and James’ getting his second in 72nd to make it 4-3 to T&T.
Gill came off the bench after missing T&T’s last warm up with Costa Rica’s Sporting Club because of a niggling injury. But he showed great desire to push his team in front with a left footer into the roof of the net after gliding past two men on the right of the box. Substitute Andrew De Gannes also added spark to the T&T attack with a low effort that came off the woodwork following a pass by James. T&T seemed god for the win before lightning forced the team off the field for a 30-minute delay. On the resumption, Khan had a chance to put T&T 5-3 ahead but could not beat advancing goalkeeoer Congaros Medina after setting himself up nicely by going past two defenders.
There would be one last twist in their entertaining affair, and it would go in Haiti’s favor, as Bryan Destin scored in the 90’ to complete the 4-4 scoreline.
Trinidad and Tobago: 1.Jahiem Wickham (GK); 2.Christian Bailey (9.Real Gill 69′), 5.Jaron Pascall, 4.Jaheim Joseph, 6.Kassidy Davidson;3.Marvin Waldrop; 8.Luke Phillip, 7.Kaihim Thomas, 15.Micah Cain (17.Andrew De Gannes 69′), 10.Molik Jesse Khan (C),1.Nathaniel James;
Unused substitutes: 18.Tristan Edwards (GK), 12.Josiah Wilson, 13.Noah Roka, 14.Josiah Cooper, 16.Tyrik Trotman, 19.Isaiah Thompson, 20.Tarik Lee.
Head Coach: Angus Eve
Haiti: 1.Congaros Medina (GK); 2.Duckens Pierre, 5.Ross Appolon, 4.Fernando Ciceron (captain), 3.Jean Leriche (13.Omre Etienne 66′); 6.Woodensky Pierre, 19.Adelson Belizaire (18.Mateo Scott 73′); 11.Watz Leazard (17.Kyan Champagne 73′), 16.Nicolas Lacombe (8.Joel Favard 32′), 10.Shad San Millan (7.Bryan Destin 66′); 9.Steevenson Jeudy.
Unused substitutes: 12.Willemeson Augustin (GK), 14.Edouard Vorbe, 15.Michelson Alexandre, 20.Juff Exilus.
Head Coach: Angelo Jean-Baptiste
Referee: Rubiel Vasquez (USA)
SOURCE: thettfa.com