Trinidad and Tobago labored to a 2-1 victory over Barbados in their second outing of the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Championships on Friday night to keep alive their chances of advancing to the semi-finals and next year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Needing nothing less than a win, T&T made the worst possible start when they conceded another soft goal in the 13th minute.
A miss-clearance by Cyd Gray to a right side cross allowed Gregory Goodridge to pounce on the loose ball and stab past a hapless Jan Michael Williams for a Barbados 1-0 scoreline. Before that Aurtis Whitley and his men were enjoying better possession but could muster little good going forward on the hard, uneven surface.
Barbados were disciplined at the back and so there was little opportunity for lone striker McFarlane to muster much up front. And unlike the first half against Grenada, T&T were not creating as much on the evening.
But McFarlane got more involved and referee Javier Jauregui wasted no time in pointing to the spot when the big man was pulled down inside the penalty box. He subsequently converted with ease, hitting into the left of the goal to bring T&T on even terms.
T&T had a further chance to go ahead moments before half time when Anthony Wolfe was sent through clear on goal but he tried to position himself better atop the six yard box before shooting and the ball bubbled over and was scrambled away by a defender.
The game’s pattern didn’t change much in the second half. Cornell Glen came on for Khaleem Hyland and Clyde Leon replaced Gray. Osei Telesford was dropped into a right back position. T&T appeared eager to make something happen, but only in spurts and it wasn’t enough to excite the fans.
On 61 minutes, McFarlane’s header was held onto by goalie Alvin Rouse. Chances were again far and few with Glen too unable to break the stubborn “Bajan” backline. But when Wolfe progressed goalwards on the right of the box, Rouse raced off his line to upend the midfielder and Jauregui again pointed to the spot and subsequently gave the custodian marching orders.
McFarlane completed the honours a second time but Barbados would fight back in search of an equalizer as T&T lost some momentum and allowed the opponents to feature too easily in around and their penalty box. Bryan Neblett missed a reasonable chance to level the scores but could only blast over bar from an inside left position. Again T&T found themselves on the backfoot for too much of the closing moments of a match and would definitely savor this three points and now look to make a lot more happen against Jamaica on Sunday.
T&T: Jan Michael Williams, Cyd Gray (Clyde Leon 46th), Avery John, Keyeno Thomas, Julius James, Khaleem Hyland (Cornell Glen 46th), Anthony Wolfe (Andre Toussaint 75th), Aurtis Whitley (capt), Osei Telesford, Keon Daniel, Errol McFarlane.
Soca Warriors back on track with 2-1 win over Barbados.
By: Digicelfootball.Com.
Barbados out of the Digicel Caribbean Championships
Friday, December 5; Jarrett Park, Montego Bay, Jamaica: The Soca Warriors restored their fighting spirit with a 2-1 penalty assisted victory over a subdued Barbados in Group A of the Digicel Caribbean Championships Finals.
The course of tournament football rarely ever runs smoothly and Barbados found that out when they met a Soca Warriors team determined to honour their tribe with a victory and restore some lost pride following a humbling 2-1 loss to Grenada in their opening fixture.
The first ten minutes of the bout saw Trinidad & Tobago assume control over their opponents final third, hemming them in with cruel intentions. Superb delivery from wide positions however, found Trinidad & Tobago wishing Kenwyne Jones was available for this fixture, as knockout aerial opportunities passed them by.
Barbados on the other hand were able to improve on Trinidad’s mistakes, when Rashida Williams’ low cross slid under the boot of Anthony Wolfe in the box, allowing Gregory Goodridge to give Barbados a good start in minute 13 with their first shot in anger and the game’s opening goal.
Trinidad were made to wait until minute 27 before they produced their first failed offering to the goal Gods when a freekick was left footed over the bar from the edge of the defensive D. The Warriors sacrificial shots were not in vain as just before the interval they got a lucky break when a penalty was awarded to Khaleem Hyland when Romell Burgess slid in for the challenge and made contact with what appeared to be all ball. A short delay for a booking on Alvin Rouse, who voiced his grouse with the referee too vehemently, set the stage for the eventual man of the match Errol Mc Farlene, a late addition to the squad, who rewarded his selection with a spot kick to level the score before the halftime intermission.
The second half proceeded at a nervous pace with neither side willing to get too adventurous in their attacks; instead possession was the name of the game, with both teams spending most of their time in midfield. The Warriors launched another raid on the hour mark, with Mcfarlene once again laying siege to the Barbadian backline, this time with a downward header that was somehow kept out through a combination of goalkeeper and post.
Referee Javier Jaurgui took center stage yet again with the award of another penalty in minute 73, when Rouse was booked a second time following his collision with the onrushing Anthony Wolfe. Up stepped Mcfarlene who scored his second from the spot, this time past substitute goalkeeper Adrian Chase, to secure Trinidad & Tobago’s come from behind victory and their first points of the DCC Finals.
The victory raises the Warriors to second in the Group A standings, while cementing Barbados to the bottom of the table who has yet to register a point in the Finals of the Digicel Caribbean Championships.
Trinidad & Tobago 1.Jan-Michael Williams, 3.Avery John, 5.Keyeno Thomas, 6.Khaleem Hyland (13.Cornell Glen 46th), 7.Anthony Wolfe (10.Andre Toussaint 74th), 8.Cyd Gray (Clyde Leon 46th), 9.Aurtis Whitley (capt), 12.Osei Telesford, 14.Julius James, 19.Keon Daniel, 11.Errol McFarlane.
Subs 2.Clyde Leon, 4.Makan Hislop, 15.Arnold Dwarika, 16.Seon Power, 17.Aklie Edwards, 21.Marvin Phillip.
Barbados 1.Alvin Rouse, 2.Barry Skeete, 3.Jonathan Straker, 4.Omar Archer (8.Dwayne Mclean 85th), 5.Bryan Neblett, 9.Riviere Williams (18.Adrian Chase (GK) 72nd), 10.Norman Forde, 11.Gregory Goodridge (14.Angus Doyle 65th), 12.Rashida Williams, 15.Romell Burgess, 17.John Parris.
Subs 6.Rohan Hall, 7.Donovan Lavine, 13.Mario Hart, 16.Andre Daniel.
Referee: Javier Jauregui