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Trinidad and Tobago’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign is well and truly over now.
The Soca Warriors lost their sixth successive match last night as they fell 2-0 to Panama in Panama City; and it proved to be the final nail in their coffin, as it is now impossible for coach Dennis Lawrence’s troops to advance to Russia, despite having two qualifiers to spare against Mexico and the United States.
(Copyright AFP 2017/Bienvenido Velasco)
Trinidad and Tobago had a perfect World Cup qualifying record against Panama before last night with five wins from as many outings. But Lawrence and his troops would have been under no illusions as to the size of the task.
The rookie six foot seven coach rang in the changes with six alterations to his starting team—only defender Sheldon Bateau and midfielders Kevan George, Joevin Jones and Kevin Molino kept their places from Friday’s 2-1 home defeat to Honduras—while he swapped their 4-1-4-1 formation for 5-4-1.
He would have been reasonably encouraged too after the first half hour, as the Warriors created two half-chances for striker Willis Plaza—neither of which ended with a shot on target—and won frequent free kicks down either flank by Kevin Molino and Joevin Jones.
Lawrence might have expected to trouble Panama from set pieces with Sheldon Bateau, Carlyle Mitchell, Radanfah Abu Bakr and Mekeil Williams all in the starting line-up and capable in the air. But, instead, the Warriors repeatedly failed to deliver testing crosses into the box, with Jones particularly culpable.
Ironically, Panama capitalised directly from a Trinidad and Tobago set piece in the 39th minute as Gabriel Torres sprinted half the length of the pitch—easily outfoxing Curtis Gonzales and Kevan George on the way—before finishing between the legs of goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
(Copyright AFP 2017/Bienvenido Velasco)
Winger Nathan Lewis, who gave a decent showing at right wing-back, tested opposing goalkeeper José Calderón with a low shot at his near post in the 49th minute.
But the mood darkened considerably for the Warriors when Carlyle Mitchell inadvertently headed past his own goalkeeper in the 57th minute off a cross from Panama winger Alberto Quintero. Panama 2, T&T 0.
The Warriors ought to have halved the deficit in the 70th minute when s Calderón inexplicably spilled a shot by Trinidad and Tobago substitute Khaleem Hyland from outside the six-yard box.
The ball dropped fortuitously for Plaza in the six-yard box and the India-based forward, who had followed up smartly to get the chance in the first place, clipped his first-time effort over the fallen goalkeeper, only to watch it rap the bar before going over.
After that, there was never going to be a way back. Bateau kept Panama at bay in the 83rd minute with a superb last-gasp challenge on opposing midfielder Édgar Yoel Bárcenas from a counter-attack.
But, seconds later, Panama substitute Abdiel Arroyo cut in off the left flank and beat Phillip with a right-footed strike that deflected off Mitchell.
(Copyright AFP 2017/Bienvenido Velasco)
The emphatic 3-0 scoreline almost doubled Panama’s goal tally in the Hex in a single night. The Central American nation had scored only four goals in their seven previous competitive games combined.
The result, coupled with the United States’ 1-1 draw away to Honduras, pushed Panama into third spot and gave them a real chance of joining Mexico and Costa Rica as automatic qualifiers for the Russia World Cup. It would be their first appearance at a senior FIFA tournament.
For Trinidad and Tobago, the next two qualifiers will be joyless affairs, the first away to Mexico on 6 October and the last at home to the United States on 10 October.
The Warriors can conceivably play the role of spoilers as, should they hold the US to a draw, they can force the North American nation to settle for a FIFA Play-off spot or even miss out on the showpiece 2018 tournament altogether.
But there is now no way for the Trinidad and Tobago Warriors to achieve their initial goal and get to Russia themselves.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (5-4-1): 1.Marvin Phillip (GK); 16.Nathan Lewis, 4.Sheldon Bateau (captain), 12.Carlyle Mitchell, 6.Radanfah Abu Bakr, 17.Mekeil Williams; 10.Kevin Molino, 19.Kevan George (8.Khaleem Hyland 50), 15.Curtis Gonzales, 3.Joevin Jones (7.Cordell Cato 62); 9.Willis Plaza (11.Tyrone Charles 76).
Unused substitutes: 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK), 22.Adrian Foncette (GK), 2.Aubrey David, 5.Daneil Cyrus, 13.Kevon Villaroel, 18.Triston Hodge, 20.Jamille Boatswain, 23.Leston Paul.
Coach: Dennis Lawrence
Panama (4-2-3-1): 12.José Calderón (GK); 2.Michael Murillo, 4.Fidel Escobar, 5.Román Torres (captain) (23.Felipe Baloy 80), 17.Luis Ovalle; 6.Gabriel Gómez (22.Abdiel Arroyo 72), 20.Anibal Godoy; 19.Alberto Quintero (11.Armando Cooper 82), 9.Gabriel Torres, 8.Édgar Yoel Bárcenas; 7.Blas Pérez.
Unused substitutes: 1.Alex Rodriguez (GK), 3.Roberto Chen, 10.Ricardo Buitrago, 13.Adolfo Machado, 15.Eric Davis, 16.Jose Gonzales, 18.Luis Tejada, 21.Roberto Nurse.
Coach: Hernán Gómez
Referee: Henry Bejarano (Costa Rica)
(Copyright AFP 2017/Bienvenido Velasco)
2018 World Cup qualifying results
(Tuesday 5 September)
Honduras 1 (Romell Quito 28), USA 1 (Bobby Wood 85) in San Pedro Sula;
*—Red card: Henry Figueroa (Hon)
Panama 3 (Gabriel Torres 39, Carlyle Mitchell OG 57, Abdiel Arroyo 84), Trinidad and Tobago 0 in Panama City;
Costa Rica 1 (Marco Ureña 83), Mexico 1 (Christian Gamboa OG 42) in San José;
(Copyright AFP 2017/Ed Grimaldo)
Standings
Mexico 8-5-3-0-11-3-18
Costa Rica 8-4-3-1-12-5-15
Panama 8-2-4-2-7-5-10
United States 8-2-3-3-12-11-9
Honduras 8-2-3-3-9-16-9
T&T 8-1-0-7-4-15-3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_WNvqPvD54
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Honestly losing is hard however is the kind of goals being scored on us i still baffled .
Excerpt from our Tuesday night CPL game: When Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) President David John-Williams put in an appearance at the halfway stage, the Biggest Party in Sport became the Biggest Shit Talk Party in Sport.
“Eh eh,” Eyelashes started the ball rolling, “wha he doing here? Bailiff take he TV or he cyar bear to watch the Shithong Warriors?”
All footballing activities on the international level in Trinidad should be immediately suspended until they’re ready to field and organized , disciplined team that’s ready to compete .Everything should be put to a stop until after the World Cup .Everything needs to be rebuilt from scratch .From board to coach to players .We need to make a plan .
T& t played the wrong formation, 5-4-1 is a to defensive formation, we would have been better off playing a 4-3-3, more attacking # The best method of defense is to attack.
..8 matches and 3 points. Call some Super League players. They SURELY cannot do worse..
Really? THAT’S your solution? Pretty self serving there Mr Look Loy. Disappointing
Football has more govt and corporate support.but Athletics has put us on the map in world wide yet it is treated like a long time basterd child
Them eh even win one match. Steups.
They actuall did win a match. Beat panama 1-0 at the hasley crawford stadium earlier in the campaign. It’s still been a piss poor campaign tho
What is their diet.
Just that game T&T play last night the totally was not ready
The gps equipment was a trial and a loan. ….cyah blame the guy for trying to get us updated training options ..
Dennis L had more than some coaches before him ….remember they introduced the GPS fitness monitoring equipment .. which other coaches didn’t have … but this assignment was out of his league ….
One thing ah didn’t understand was de high degree of experimentation in another do-or-die game. Or is it dat Lawrence felt he had nothing to lose and decided to gamble? Nathan Lewis as a right back, Mekeil Williams in a consistently advanced position, de formation dat was used etc. Ah guess Nathan Lewis is now like ManU’s Valencia. It was baffling. Whatever yes.
Given the abject performance against Honduras, I’m guessing the coach wasn’t about to “reward” mediocrity with playing time and essentially was sending a message to his squad.
It’s the only plausible reason I can think of in the circumstances