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The Trinidad and Tobago national senior football needed a second half winner from United States-based attacking midfielder Kevin Molino this evening to edge Curaçao 3-2 in its opening 2014 Caribbean Cup finals assignment at Montego Bay, Jamaica.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Senior team coach Stephen Hart predicted a tough assignment this evening due to Curaçao’s recent influx of eight Netherlands-based professionals such as 23-year-old Willem II winger Charlton Vicento, who was a Netherlands national under-19 player during the 2010 European Championships. And Curaçao lived up to the billing in the Caribbean Cup opener as the Dutch-speaking islanders got the first goal of the tournament through Rihario Meulens in the 18th minute who banged home after running on to a ball over the top of the Trinidad and Tobago defence.
Meulens, a striker, is employed by Netherlands’ top flight Eredivisie club, FC Dordrecht.
Trinidad and Tobago captain Kenwyne Jones, an England Championship Division forward with Cardiff City, equalised from the penalty spot in the 25th minute after the giant forward was tugged down by Curaçao defender Shelton Martis during a right side corner kick. And Jones then gave the “Soca Warriors” the lead in the 38th minute with a simple finish after the opposing defence made a mess of a low, left side Molino cross.
But, three minutes into the second half, Curaçao levelled the scores again through a third Netherlands-based player, Gianluca Maria, who was once on PSV Eidhoven’s books but now represents MVV Maastricht in the second division. Maria made an immediate impact off the substitutes’ bench to convert a right side cross from the edge of the six yard box.
Molino, who was the eventual man of the match, responded swiftly to regain the Warriors’ lead in the 50th minute as he turned a Curaçao defender inside out before whipping a curling finish into the far corner from the edge of the area. The Russell Latapy-esque strike proved to be the winner in the Group A contest.
It was Molino’s seventh goal in his last three outings for Hart and his tenth career international goal from 27 matches.
Jones’ overall tally of 18 international goals from 66 appearances is less stellar. But no one could complain about the giant forward’s efficiency of late as the Warriors captain now has 11 goals in 15 matches under Hart.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Trinidad and Tobago’s next group outing is on Thursday evening when the Warriors face French Guiana from 6.30 pm at the same venue. French Guiana pulled off a shock 1-1 draw against defending Caribbean champs, Cuba, after a stoppage time goal from striker Mickael Solvi in the second Group A match tonight.
(Team)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 21.Jan Michael Williams (GK); 6.Daneil Cyrus (2.Justin Hoyte 56), 18.Yohance Marshall, 19.Carlyle Mitchell, 26.Aubrey David; 14.Andre Boucaud, 17.Leston Paul; 13.Cordell Cato, 10.Kevin Molino, 7.Hughtun Hector (23.Lester Peltier 63); 9.Kenwyne Jones (captain) (27.Jonathan Glenn 75).
Unused substitutes: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK), 5.Kevan George, 8.Khaleem Hyland, 11.Ataulla Guerra, 12.Radanfah Abu Bakr, 15.Jamal Gay, 16.Shahdon Winchester, 24.Adrian Foncette.
Unavailable: Joevin Jones missed out due to a fever.
Coach: Stephen Hart
2014 Caribbean Cup
Group A
(Tue Nov 11)
Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Kenwyne Jones 25 pen, 38, Kevin Molino 50), Curaçao 2 (Rihario Meulens 18, Gianluca Maria 48) at the Montego Bay Sport Complex
French Guiana 1 (Mickael Solvi 90+4), Cuba 1 (Ariel Martinez 57) at the Montego Bay Sport Complex
Upcoming fixtures
Group B
(Wed Nov 12)
Haiti v Antigua and Barbuda at the Montego Bay Sport Complex
Jamaica v Martinique at the Montego Bay Sport Complex
Group A
(Thu Nov 13)
Trinidad and Tobago v French Guiana at the Montego Bay Sport Complex
Cuba v Curaçao at the Montego Bay Sport Complex
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Fantastic goal by Molino. Loved how he worked the ball and then let fly. That was a beaut. Hart said they missed too many scoring opportunities and now they’ve gotten over the nerves of the first match we can expect to see some improvement. Keep rallying!
Our teams are on a high. Congratulations, the guys worked hard for that win. Keep it up and it is great to see the captain scoring.
Yea.. buh afterwards… like Curacao turn it up a notch… or TT stopped attacking…
Hey Teflon Shawn, great goal by Molino eh?
So disappointing that we couldn’t even get radio coverage. The French Guiana vs Cuba result is certainly quite the unexpected boost. The idea of playing in the Copa America is a dream. Let’s hope we keep and improve form. Also, I really hope we get some sort of TV coverage, I was looking forward to seeing how Jonathan Glen fit in.
Well, we can blame the CFU for that mostly.
Well done Men!!!!! 🙂
And absolutely no coverage. How can our sports succeed?
What’s that Maureen Craig Rousseau?
They did that in Hockey until the IOC stopped it.
Shite!!! I have to rethink that French Guiana statement. Ok Fellas. You just have to play each game like it’s a final. Think we have a strong enough bench to cover all the matches. Sure Coach Hart and team already have their bases covered.
Long gone are the days we put 7 past people
So no rest for the boys lol
Including tonight’s match, French Guiana has played 8 games for the year, and have only lost once (to St. Kitts and Nevis). Cuba on the other hand has only one twice over the last year, but they played stronger opponents.
This is a big result. Nigel is Cuba down? Or French Guiana that good?
Yes, that was the final score. French Guiana got the equalizer in the 94th minute. Cuba initially took the lead in the 57th minute.
Final score Nigel? That is a huge result for French Guiana. Are there no minnows left in the Caribbean?!
Cuba 1-1 French Guiana
Will possibly have to use other players against lesser ranked teams e.g. French Guiana to save Jones, Molino et all. We have a good bench.
Can’t blame the Caribbean islands looking for talent overseas. This is a tough tournament to win. Lasana Liburd I can’t see Molino and kenwin jones not playing every match. This rotation thing will be tough
Why do people continue to ask why local channels are not covering the matches? The question to ask is why corporate trinidad does not support these projects so that television stations can broadcast them or why the CFU charges ridiculous prices for television rights that Caribbean television stations obviously cannot afford?
Good win. We should get better as the games progress. Cuba should be our toughest hurdle, but that will help to prepare us for the final. Good luck guys for the rest of the tournament. Stay healthy and focussed.
I had a discussion about this over the wkend Lasana. TnT can be proud of our homegrown talent. We breed them and send them overseas to better themselves, not the other way round
Did we play well Lasana Liburd?
Very proud of my Cousin Coach Hart for what he’s been able to accomplish with the team thus far and i was also pleased to read Hutson Charles interview in yesterday’s papers where he confirmed that Hart has the full support of the Technical staff. That is key to their success.
Wow. I haven’t checked the rosters yet Savitri Maharaj. That would be something!
Doh study that. We’ll beat them too. Let them fling all they have at us we will lick up all ah dem.
And the Jamaicans have 18 Englishmen out of a 23-man squad
Great going Soca Warriors. One down more to go.
you need to write an article about why there are no local channels covering this.. or at least a satirical piece for a few laughs
Lol