T&T Under-23 footballers (Olympic squad) registered a comfortable 2-0 win over the Antigua & Barbuda senior men’s team in a friendly encounter at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya yesterday.
The scorers for T&T were Sean De Silva in the first-half and substitute Marcus Joseph, with a late second-half item.
De Silva opened the scoring in the 31st minute when he placed a right footer low and hard into the right corner from the left edge of the box past the dive of goalkeeper Javid Joseph from a Leston Paul feed.
At the start of the second-half, T&T’s Jamal Clarence, Micah Lewis and Abdullah Mohammed were all introduced for Trent Lougheed, De Silva and Jevon Morris as coached Zoran Vranes tried to give as players some playing time.
With T&T still ahead 1-0, defenders Aubrey David and Akeem Adams were also substituted for Curtis Gonzales and Robert Primus on the hour mark while striker Marus Joseph and goalkeeper Andre Marchan replaced Jean-Luc Rochford and Glenroy Samuel respectively, eight minutes later.
Despite the many changes, the young Soca Warriors still continued to enoy the better of the exchanges and six minutes from the end Marcus Joseph sealed the win when he drilled a low left footed shot past the out-of-position Javid Joseph to seal victory.
The win was a confidence booster for the T&T squad which is preparing for Olympic qualifiers, while it was the second defeat in three days for the visitors who were also whipped 4-1 by the senior Soca Warriors at the same venue on Wednesday night, as they continue preparations for Digicel Caribbean Cup qualifiers beginning on August 18.
TEAMS
T&T Team - Glenroy Samuel (Andre Marchan 68th), Aubrey David (Curtis Gonzales 60th), Akeem Adams (Robert Primus 60th), Leston Paul (Reshad Wint 84th), Sean Da Silva (Micah Lewis 46th), Jamal Gay (Kenaz Williams 84th), Trent Lougheed (Juma Clarence 46th), Jean Luc Rochford (Marcus Joseph 68th), Uriah Bentick, Daneil Cyrus, Jevon Morris (Abdullah Mohammed 46th).
Subs not used - Marvin Manswell, Joevin Jones.
Antigua Start Team - Javid Joseph, Ranja Christian (Jamie Thomas 50th), Karanja Mack, Gayson Gregory, Teran Williams (Tamarley Thomas 71st), Quinton Griffith, Randolph Burton, Lawson Robinson, Roy Gregory, George Dublin, Akeem Thomas.
Subs not used - Dave Carr, Damein Farrel, Desmond Bleau, Orlando Peters, Molvin James.