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A shellshocked Trinidad and Tobago were eliminated from the Concacaf Under-20 Qualifying series at home tonight, after a 3-0 loss to Canada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
Touted by technical director Anton Corneal as the most gifted collection of players in over a decade, the young Soca Warriors’ road to the Chile 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup turned out to be shorter than Chacon Street.
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Their entire campaign lasted three matches and five days. Presumably, there will be an inquiry, with recriminations to follow.
How could Trinidad and Tobago be so comprehensively beaten by a team that did not have their first training session until two weeks ago?
How could head coach Brian Haynes suggest that he merely worked with the collection of players put together for him by Corneal and his local assistants? What exactly has he been doing on the island for the past four months then?
It is worth remembering that Fifa-appointed Normalisation Committee chair Robert Hadad never reinstituted a technical committee for his four-year term and, remarkably, did not recommend that the new TTFA Constitution should include one either.
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In its wake, two dozen talented teenagers are managed by a head coach, technical director and technical staff that have not always appeared to be on the same page.
Tonight, arguably, was a case of the chickens coming home to roost.
At the playing of the Canadian national anthem before kickoff, Canada’s starting players—linked with arm over the shoulders of teammates on either side—shifted from side to side to the music.
It was the first and last time that the North American players were seen shaking at the Hasely Crawford Stadium tonight.
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As has been customary for the competition, the host graciously allowed their visitors the first goal attempt—this time a free, aimless header off a free kick.
However, Canada, unlike Trinidad and Tobago’s prior Caribbean opponents, did not give the ball back. Presumably, that is how they were raised.
For the first 15 minutes, the Soca Warriors barely got out of their half of the field. And, by the 10th minute, they were trailing. Canada captain Jesse Costa found space down the right flank, after a North American overload, and delivered a precise cross into the area which forward Myles Morgan swept home.
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Nominal Trinidad and Tobago playmaker Lindell Sween turned away from an opponent and released Michael Chaves into space in the 16th minute, only for the latter player to concede possession with a heavy touch.
A minute later, flanker Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia won a corner kick after a positive exchange with left back Duhrell Young.
The 5,000-odd supporters roared in encouragement, hoping that it was the start of a heroic fightback. But it was fool’s gold.
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It was not until the 84th minute that Trinidad and Tobago registered their first shot on target of the night, via a speculative effort by Rio Cardines. By then, Canada were three goals up, the fat lady had finished her rendition, and vehicles were already exiting the venue on to Wrightson Road.
Cardines’ shot, by the way, was patted down by Canada custodian Gregoire Swiderski—swatted away like so much of what the host nation tried.
Haynes vowed to outwork, outplay and then outscore Canada. Instead, Trinidad and Tobago were comprehensively outclassed.
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Canada, defended in a 4-1-3-2 formation. However, in possession, they went 3-4-3 with their midfield four operating as an inverted pyramid, with one anchor and three playmakers.
In contrast, Trinidad and Tobago employed a 4-2-3-1 formation. But the maths was not mathsing.
The hosts’ midfield trio of Abayomi George, Levi Jones and Sween were trying to keep four Canadian midfielders in check, which proved an impossible task.
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When roving Canadian attacker Santiago Lopez pushed high to join Morgan as an orthodox forward, Trinidad and Tobago full back Rio Cardines called Chaves back to help the defence—turning the host team’s most dynamic attacker into an auxiliary right back.
In the end, it’s safe to say that nothing worked. The twin island republic had better luck containing the oil spill in Tobago.
On the ball, Haynes’ back four punted the ball forward at every opportunity. Were they afraid of what they imagined the Canada press would look like? Were they trying to contest second balls without ever actually getting bodies close to isolated forward Larry Noel?
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Haynes might have some explaining to do.
What is clear is that nothing cooked up in the Trinidad and Tobago dressing room came close to making a match of the Group D decider.
In the 21st minute, Lopez’s free kick from the edge of the area was turned on to the post by Panton. Four minutes later, Morgan, surprised by his freedom, missed contact on what would have been a free header inside the box.
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Panton was tested again by Costa in the 36th minute, as the goalkeeper tidied up his own error. Lopez lobbed wide when a misplaced pass by Francois left him one-on-one with the Trinidad and Tobago custodian in the 39th minute.
And, two minutes later, Morgan flashed a shot inches wide after a George turnover.
The good news was that Trinidad and Tobago trailed 1-0 at the interval. And if that was the upside in a must-win match for the Warriors; well…
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Nine minutes after the restart, Canada got their second, as Costa and midfield anchor Alessandro Biello carved open the opposing defence with Lopez lashing home the presented chance. He celebrated the goal with hands cupped over his ears, glaring at the covered stands.
Outplay nothing.
Haynes immediately replaced Jones with the more graceful Josiah Ochoa. And Ochoa began straight away to look for the ball and seek out passing options.
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But Trinidad and Tobago’s problems clearly ran deeper than personnel. Ochoa misplaced almost every pass.
Chaves looked a shade of himself, Sween was like a square trying to fit into a round-hole.
Everywhere, there was energy without direction. And the white shirts of Canada moved the ball around and bided their time, before clipping passes beyond uncoordinated attempts at winning possession.
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Haynes added Lyshaun Morris, Malachi Webb, and Tyrell Moore. He might have even asked Russell Latapy to leave the commentator’s box and give it a go. It would not have mattered.
Fresh legs cannot compensate for an inadequate plan.
In the 79th minute, substitutes Kimani Stewart-Baynes and Kevaughn Tavernier combined for another breakaway goal and some spectators turned to the exit.
The fat lady was in full cry.
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In stoppage time, Cardines kicked out an opponent and sparked a flare up between the two teams. But the subdued response to the final whistle by the local players suggested that they knew they were well beaten.
Dream over.
At the 2023 Concacaf Under-17 Championship, played in Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago were edged 3-2 by Canada—although the twin island republic, coached by Shawn Cooper, played for 70 minutes with 10 players, after an early red card to Rio Cardines.
Sween had a goal and assist in a narrow 3-2 loss to Canada in their under-17 meeting. But they were comprehensively beaten at under-20 level.
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Canada, still led by head coach Andrew Olivieri, found things a lot easier in Port of Spain under Haynes’ Trinidad and Tobago team.
Was there any lesson to be learnt in Port of Spain tonight? History does not offer much room for optimism.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Ailan Panton (GK); 7.Rio Cardines, 3.Russel Francois, 4.Cody Cooper (captain), 2.Duhrell Young (5.Lyshaun Morris 59); 8.Abayomi George, 6.Levi Jones (15.Josiah Ochoa 55); 13.Michael Chaves (19.Malachi Webb 78), 10.Lindell Sween (14.Tyrell Moore 78), 11.Derrel Garcia; 9.Larry Noel.
Unused substitutes: 18.Bryan Gafiuk (GK), 21.Makaya Taylor (GK), 12.Jeremiah Cateau, 16.Akil Henry, 17.Jaden Williams, 20.J’lon Matthews.
Coach: Brian Haynes
Canada (3-1-3-3): 1.Gregoire Swiderski (GK); 15.Adam Pearlman, 6.Lazar Stefanovic, 3.Christian Greco-Taylor (14.Ethan Schilte-Brown 83); 4.Alessandro Biello; 10.Jesse Costa (captain), 8.Jeevan Badwal, 20.Santiago Lopez (17.Kevaughn Tavernier 68); 2.Theo Rigopoulos (12.James Cameron 83), 21.Myles Morgan (19.Tavio Ciccarelli 61), 9.Oumar Diallo (11.Kimani Stewart-Baynes 46).
Unused substitutes: 16.Ivan Pavela (GK), 18.Nathaniel Abraham (GK), 5.Sergei Kozlovskiy, 7.Tiago Codinha, 13.Mattei Schiavoni.
Coach: Andrew Olivieri
Referee: Shavin Greene (Guyana)
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Concacaf U-20 Qualifying result
(Tuesday 27 February))
Trinidad and Tobago 0, Canada 3 (Myles Morgan 10, Santiago Lopez 54, Kevaughn Tavernier 79) at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
It turns out that the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team were not the only party unprepared for last Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team head coach Brian Haynes admitted that his players were not fully prepared for Read more
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Brian Haynes says his team can beat Canada in Tuesday’s deciding Concacaf U-20 Championship Qualifier Read more
Trinidad and Tobago head coach, Brian Haynes, expressed disappointment with his team’s first half performance last night after their 3-2 Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) technical director Anton Corneal suggested that Soca Warriors fans have reason for optimism based Read more
Former Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team attacker Brian Haynes will serve as the head coach of the Men’s Read more
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.
Onwards and Upwards have faith and keep on believing time will be a healthy healer 🙏🏽
Cardines plays right back for his club Crystal Palace. Why the experiment at right wing in international competition?
A coach not involved in selecting his team is strange. Time for him to cut the grass to see the snakes. Sounds like a coordinated effort between someone (or multiple people) within TTFAs coaching staff, along with some help from media to make him look foolish. There were several players cut that should have made the roster- they just didn’t know the right people. Time to clear out the entire house and start fresh. This will always be the result when your selection process is led fueled by looking out for family, friends and close affiliates and winning is a distant second.
How could Anton Corneal select players and hand them to a coach for such a crucial tournament? He should have coached the team then? I am still confused on his role as TD? Selecting players and coaches but having no involvement in technical input? I really don’t know how we expect to go anywhere with this myopic thinking. Praying that we take as Dwight Yorke said a few days ago that the wrangling and disunity must stop and take a really national approach using all the resources technical , financial and otherwise. We are a tiny country we cannot afford to waste precious and scarce resources. There is room for everyone . Persons should be put in positions that they can effectively carry out and not be figure heads bringing n friends and associates who may not be the best persons for a particular role. This has to STOP!!
Everyone knows what is happening but no one has the testicular fortitude to do the right thing. We can only pray that the elections will bring a breath of fresh air to better governance and unification of the football fraternity .
If you read the preview, you could not have been surprised by anything in this story—except that the margin was only three goals. A coach whose victory “plan” is to “outwork, outplay and outscore” the opposition is always going to be outclassed.
Taye is right on the ball; at all levels, T&T football is spinning top in mud.
Brother Lasana, I can count on one finger, Yes, one finger, the number of times I appeared on this chat. Your account of the game has been the most succinct and in terms of clarity, One of the best I have seen in quite some time.
I did not see the game. yet, after reading your account of the game, I had a clear picture of what happened.
I’m not in a position to knock or praise. I just wanted to let you know, you did some good work here.
Good luck going forward.
Much appreciated, Kendall.
CANADA did outclass TT last night, surprisingly they did it with only 2 weeks of training !! Why and how ?? Perhaps because as you’ve seen their playing style is different, is through the middle, controlling the pace and match as they contain the ball, the play through the middle is essential all over the planet, but in some Islands they still rely on speed and passes through the sides for the wingers with minimal touches from the midfielders, this style of play might beat some other islands nations but that’s about it, so that has to change if we are to grow as a nation that can compete, really compete I mean, also the selection of players where made by the coach and all the staff, he had a camp in Dec and more players came in January that stayed over a month in the island for the national training camp and yes he was out of the country a few weeks but he’s been on top of the team / players, sadly because of the style of play many talented players that where developed outside of TT got turned away because they played “The right way “ and not the TT island way, this was a huge mistake as those players could have made a difference through mid field play .. we had no true #10 or #9 out there, where is the midfielder putting passes through the middle like Debruyne or how Modric does it ?? Until the mentality of the style of the TT football changes we will not advance with the correct development.
The irony of the statement: “Tonight, arguably, was a case of the chickens coming home to roost” in the same week that we learn that Trinis eat $1.3 billion worth of KFC each year is not lost.
We saw some flashes of talent in this campaign. Those players will use this U20 selection on their LinkedIN to get into NCAA D1 programmes and we will never see them again. [Perhaps we might in the MLS draft? Who can say…]
Football in T&T is broken. The entire thing…from root to fruit, and we keep seeing the Hopeium Strategy being used to prop up our collective delusions of grandeur. Primary schools, secondary schools, youth clubs…are all floundering in a wasteland of poor resources; poorly trained coaches who make up systems on the fly; misallocated spending on tournaments instead of development….and the desperate flapping of the flock as it tries to nail the landing into a Soca Worriers team that plays on Bad Mind like some magical elixir that is supposed to repair all these self-inflicted wounds.
Time we woke up and smelt the hong Wing…We in ah whole mess.
T&T were beaten from the dressing room with the change of Río Cardines the most threatening and speediest attacked being played at right back instead of right winger which is his position, Canadians would’ve been happy to see him chasing balls in defence instead of running at them, no adjustment at halftime to even up the midfield as the Canadians outnumbered, outplayed and were a much fitter bunch, and the result was a foregone conclusión.
Agreed, one of the best attackers played as a right back, our full back left on the bench, the midfield was none existent and yet nothing was changed smh. The coach needs to apologize for the ridiculous changes
Cardines plays right back for his club Crystal Palace. Why the experiment at right wing in international competition?
We haven’t done the hard yards (planning , analysis, developing programs, execution etc). So what then gives us the right to skip ahead of countries that have taken the time to do this. Tournaments like these will continue to expose our lack of planning. No doubt there is quality in the group but it goes way beyond that.