Trinidad & Tobago exited the Digicel Cup Finals tournament with a win as they overcame a feeble Martinique side in what was the final game for both teams as they propped up Group H of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.

With both sides knowing that their Digicel Cup journey was over, they took to the field to ensure their sense of pride was restored somewhat as they looked to gain a first victory.

For Martinique the pressure of a home crowd was daunting but for the Trinidad coach, Russell Latapy, it may be more a question of his position as leader should they fail to impress in their final game.

While Gustan was again looking dangerous for the French it was Jorsling who had the first real chance of the match after a fine run and cross by Hector put the forward in a one on one with keeper Heurlie, but his lobbed effort was tame and was cleared easily.

Molino was next up for Trinidad when he raced clean through from the right wing but he seemed to see his name in headlines first as he dragged his shot wide of the far post when he had time to at least make Heurlie work to save his effort.

Trinidad started the second half with the same tenacity and were rewarded after only 2 minutes of the restart when Hughtun Hector came on to a precise cut back from the right by Wolfe, and side footed his effort with great confidence into the top left corner of the French net.

On 64 minutes Trinidad should have made it 2 when Keon Daniel laid a golden chance for Jorsling who miskicked from 5 yards and saw his bobbled effort go wide when it seemed simpler to score. On 68 minutes Parsemain had the best French chance of the half but his header failed to go between the two posts and yet another French attack came to nothing.

Jorsling again had a chance for Trinidad on 74 mins but his valiant diving header after a great cross from skipper Leon was meat and drink for Heurlie.

Heurlie was again the hero 4 minutes later as Jagdeosingh, only on the pitch 2 minutes, raced clean through for a one on one situation, but the keeper stood tall and waited until the last minute before making his decisive pounce to save.

And so it stayed until the end of the game as the Soca Warriors picked up their first win of the Digicel Finals to leave hosts Martinique rooted to the foot of Group H and along with their victors out of the Caribbean’s showcase football tournament, the Digicel Caribbean Cup.

Teams

Martinique: - 24.Eddy Heurlie, 3.Sebastien Cretinoir, 4.Daniel Herelle, 5.Patrick Percin (capt) (18.Gaetsan Sidney 46th), 6.Joan Deluge, 7.Steve Gustan, 8.Rodrigue Audel, 14.Fabrice Reuperne, 9.Manuel Mence (19.Livaye Aliker 75th), 15.Rodrigue Cesar, 10.Jose Goron (17.Kevin Parsemain 61st).

Coach: - Michel Guy Nisas.

Trinidad &Tobago: - 1.Marvin Phillip, 2.Clyde Leon (capt), 6.Daneil Cyrus, 5.Kern Cupid (14.Joevin Jones 76th), 7.Hughtun Hector, 9.Devon Jorsling (13.Cornell Glen 71st), 10.Kevin Molino, 11.Anthony Wolfe, 12.Julius James, 18.Densill Theobald, 19.Keon Daniel (16.Kendall Jagdeosingh 76th).

Coach: - Russell Latapy.

Standings

P W L D GF GC GD Pts
Cuba 3 2 0 1 3 0 3 7
Grenada 3 1 0 2 2 1 1 5
Trinidad and Tobago 3 1 2 0 1 3 -2 3
Martinique 3 0 2 1 1 3 -2 1

Statistics

Martinique vs Trinidad and Tobago
3 Shots 8
14 Fouls 12
5 Corner Kicks 5
5 Offsides 7
2 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0

Referee: - Trevor Taylor ( Barbados).

Hector's goal gives T&T 1-0 win over Martinique.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).

A well taken 47th minute goal by midfielder Hughtun Hector ensured Trinidad and Tobago ended their disappointing Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals appearance on a winning note as they defeated hosts Martinique 1-0 in their final Group H match at the Pierre Aliker Stadium on Tuesday night.

With nothing but pride to play for and analysis opportunity for the future`, T&T dominated the match but were letdown by some lackluster finishing which also saw them fall 1-0 to Grenada on Sunday which saw them eliminated from the semi-finals and the Concacaf Gold Cup. The result left T&T third in the group with three points behind Cuba (seven) and Grenada (five).

Russell Latapy’s 5-4-1 formation appeared to suit the “Soca Warriors” who again had the first opportunity at goal when Devorn dragged wide in the 18th minute and just after the half hour mark the lively Kevin Molino released Hector on the right but after he crossed, Jorsling’s lame lob failed to trouble the goalkeeper.

On 33 minutes, Molino had arguably T&T’s best opening of the half when Hector smartly back heeled a ball to him but he couldn’t direct his shot better than wide of the far post.

Martinique had a couple chances of their own with Sebastien Cretinoir going close and on another occasion T&T ‘keeper Marvin Phillip failed to hold an incoming cross before danger was averted. T&T looked more purposeful with Densill Theobald controlling the middiel and Daneil Cyrus and Julius James holding steady at the back.

Searching for their first goal, T&T came out blasting in the second half and fittingly went ahead when Anthony Wolfe squared and Hector clinically sidefooted past Eddie Heurlie. The T&T players celebrated the goal and Hector made his way to the bench to give a touch to Latapy on the bench.

Then in the 64th minute, Jorsling’s misfiring continued as his lame effort did no damage after Keon Daniel laid it on a platter for him. Kendall Jagdeosingh also missed a sitter when Cornell Glen flicked on and  Hector hustled between two players to create a one on one with the goalie for Jagdeosingh. But the advancing custodian managed to  block the effort.

“Still disappointed that we will not move on in the tournament but I think we showed in spurts tonight the kind of game we are capable of playing. I think it’s important that we assess the performances and work on the positives as well as work on correcting the negatives that came out of our first two matches,” Latapy told TTFF Media.

“Of course we came here with our sights on bigger things. We didn’t come here to return  home after the first round but again we will look evaluate our performances and work it out from here. The future holds a lot of football for us and in particular some of the younger players coming through the ranks,” Latapy added.