Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Team completed a 2-0 victory against Haiti courtesy of second half goals by Keyeno Thomas and Cornell Glen in Wednesdays friendly international at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
The hosts struggled to find their rhythm in the opening 45 minutes as Haiti looked more purposeful and enjoyed larger periods of possession. T&T, playing the 4-5-1 formation with Glen alone up top, only settled in the second half and subsequently found the net in quick succession.
T&T did however create the first good try on goal on nine minutes. Connell pushed forward down the left and played one over neatly to the onrushing Khaleem Hyland but he couldn’t connect well allowing Fenelon Gabart an easy pick up.
Three minutes later Haiti showed their intentions when Germain Peter had his effort deflected inches wide of the goal. Glen, who made a couple surging runs on either side of the half, also had a one time shot saved before the 20-minute mark.
Chris Birchall would be the spot kick server for T&T on the night and caused the Haitian defense their first bit of problems with a well served ball from the left which made good height before going wide off the far post off Thomas’ head.
Haiti did manage some inroads into the T&T goal area but never managed to cause major panic in the T&T back line. They had no less than 16 players in their squad on Wednesday from the squad which beat Netherlands Antilles 1-0 over two legs in last month's World Cup tie. Missing on Wednesday were veteran Pierre Bruny and Cadet Eliphene.
The game picked up pace after the interval with T&T breaking the deadlock. On 62 minutes Birchall’s perfectly flighted free kick from left found the head of Thomas and Gabart had no chance of stopping the ball from entering the net.
Haiti almost got back into the match on 68 minutes when goalie Marvin Philip failed to hold Chery Mones’ left side cross but Peter could only head over from the six yard.
T&T got the 2-0 cushion in the 70th minute when another Birchall delivery from the spot came over from the left and Thomas headed across for an onrushing Glen to convert from close range.
Teams
T&T: - 21-Marvin Phillips. 3-Avery John, 4-Makan Hislop, 5-Keyeno Thomas, 6-Khaleem Hyland, 7-Christopher Birchall (16-Radanfah Abu Bakr 76th), 8-Cyd Gray (capt), 10-Kerry Baptiste (17-Anthony Wolfe 62nd), 2-Kevaughn Connell (11-Andre Toussaint 72nd), 13-Cornell Glen, 18-Densill Theobald.
Did not play: - 2-Aklie Edwards, 15-Gyasi Joyce,1-Cleon John.
Haiti: - 1-Fenelon Gabart, 2-Alcenat Jn Sony, 4-Germain Peter (19.Jean Baptiste Fritzon 69th), 17-Alain Vubert 5-Jerome Mechack, 7-Fucien Brunel (11.Gustave Alain, 78th), (10-Alexandre Boucicaut 59th) 9-Leonel St Prux, 3-Gilles Frantz (15-Raymond Ednerson 77th), 12-Sampeur Markoel, 22-Chery Mones, 20-Joseph Peterson (16-Jean Marc Alexandre).
Did not play: - 30- Pierre Louis Wings, 6-Guerrier Parnel.
Match Officials
Referee – Kevin Tmas (Jamaica)
Assistant 1 – Egert Paesch (Aruba)
Assistant 2 – Triston Tullock (Jamaica)
Fourth Official – Dave Peterkin (Jamaica)
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