T&T U-14s fall 2-0 to impressive Jamaica in top of the table clash

The Trinidad and Tobago Boys National Under-14 Team tasted defeat for the first time tonight and it would have been a humbling experience.

The final score read 2-0 to Jamaica, but that did not tell the whole story. The young Soca Warriors were second best throughout at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.

The result means Jamaica will almost certainly top Group A with Trinidad and Tobago finishing as runners-up, as the teams prepare for the semifinal stage.

If the various groups finish as is, Jamaica would play Group B runners-up, Puerto Rico, on Friday with Trinidad and Tobago pitted to tackle Group B leaders French Guiana.

Group B comes to an end tomorrow with the Soca Warriors taking on Saint Kitts and Nevis from 4.30pm while Jamaica battle Aruba from 6.30pm. It is a replay of Sunday’s matchups when the young “Reggae Boyz” mauled Aruba 6-0 and Trinidad and Tobago thumped St Kitts and Nevis 5-0.

Today’s top of the table Group A fixture did not produce a similarly lopsided result, but there was no doubt as to which was the superior outfit.

Coach Densill Theobald’s outfit impressed with a slick passing style, which showcased his players’ creativity on the ball. But Jamaica coach Andrew Peart countered with a stifling press that tested Trinidad and Tobago’s ability to play quickly and under pressure.

The Warriors repeatedly failed the examination, as they could barely get out of their own defensive third in the first 10 minutes—let alone cross the halfway line.

Once possession changed hands, Jamaica swarmed the midfield areas creating additional passing options that they utilised to good effect. And, for the first time, the host nation could barely see the ball.

Theobald turned to his bench after just 24 minutes, as Deron Blackman and Lucas Shaw replaced Ackim Duncan and Kyen Anderson respectively.

Blackman and Shaw are both bigger and more aggressive than the players they replaced. But they were like for like changes and did not address the fundamental problem that Trinidad and Tobago faced.

And, four minutes later, Jamaica got the opening goal that had long seemed inevitable.

A quickfire passing exchange saw the ball relayed from towering striker Carlondo Morris to nippy midfielder Kyle Hussey to offensive midfielder Davion Clarke, who beat Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Christian Telfer with a shot that flew to the latter’s right.

At the interval, Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Aaden Jones had his team’s only shot on target—and it required only a regulation save from Jamaica custodian Marcodean Spence.

Telfer was lucky to have been beaten just once by that stage.

Barely a minute after the restart, the Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper was picking the ball out of his own net again, though.

Shaw’s misplaced pass went straight to Morris to present a counter-attacking opportunity, but the Jamaican forward still had two Trinidad and Tobago central defenders to deal with.

A few stepovers and a lowered shoulder later and Morris tied opponents Jaimarley John and Kenai Richardson in knots, while Telfer was again caught flat-footed by the spanking finish.

It could easily have been 3-0 to Jamaica in the 42nd minute but for an alert save by Telfer off a Morris header from a corner kick.

Theobald turned to his bench again and this time there was a noticeable tweak, as skilful midfielder Sebastian James was pushed to left back where he got a bit more space on the ball.

In the 57th minute, a deep diagonal ball from James picked out Darnell Walcott, cutting in off the right flank, and Walcott’s header meant the Jamaica goalkeeper’s third save—albeit another routine catch.

Ironically, it was a misplaced cross that finally extended Spence. Shaw’s cross-cum-shot needed saving and the Jamaica custodian just managed to tip it off the bar in the 61st minute.

Seconds later, another Trinidad and Tobago substitute, midfielder Jaden Marcelle, dipped a shoulder to glide past an opponent before shooting overbar from the edge of the area.

But Jamaica remained the more menacing team and might have scored again with giant forward Kelvin DJ Brown striking the upright in the 64th minute.

In the last minute of regulation time, Jamaica substitute Samari Cousins lunged into James from behind and was shown a straight red card by referee Majors Amaury.

Six minutes of stoppage time was indicated by the fourth official. Might Trinidad and Tobago, who were without their injured captain Adasa Richardson, help themselves to a consolation item?

Not even close. Even with 10 players, Jamaica got into the Trinidad and Tobago penalty area on three occasions in stoppage time and Brown forced a fine save from Telfer.

The two-island republic were well beaten. But, if Trinidad and Tobago can get the better of the eventual Group B winners, hopefully Theobald will find a tactical surprise of his own to trouble Jamaica in Sunday’s CFU Tier I final.

In the farcical tightly packed schedules that Concacaf teams routinely face in international youth tournaments, Theobald will have barely one training session to plot his revenge if the Soca Warriors and the Reggae Boyz meet again.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Christian Telfer (GK); 4.Kyen Anderson (2.Lucas Shaw 24), 14.Kenai Richardson, 3.JaiMarley John, 15.Antoni James (20.Samuel Balfour 46); 17.Aaden Jones (16.Jaden Marcelle 51), 8.Ackim Duncan (6.Deron Blackman 24), 19.Sebastian James (captain); 12.Jahmiah Gibbes (7.Darnell Walcott 51), 9.Jeremai Nanton (13.Jaeden Anthony 51), 10.Reagan Rowe.

Substitutes: 18.Samuel Hosein (GK), 5.Essien Thomas.

Unavailable: 11.Adasa Richardson.

Coach: Densill Theobald

Jamaica (4-3-3): 1.Marcodean Spence (GK); 12.Kenrick Brown, 14.Kelvin O Brown, 4.Aldeano Walters, 5.Rojawn Small; 17.Javier Henry, 3.Kyle Hussey, 10.Davion Clarke; 7.Tevin Savage (captain), 9.Carlondo Morris, 11.Kevaughn Halloway.

Substitutes: 2.Tavaughon Ballin, 6.Samari Cousins, 8.Jaden Frame, 13.Heron Lamie, 15.Jaedan Brown-Hanniford, 16.Maleik Wellington, 18.Samuel Taylor, 19.Alexzavier Bailey, 20.Kelvin DJ Brown.

Coach: Andrew Peart

Referee: Majors Amaury

CFU Boys’ Under-14 Challenge Series Tier I

Group A

(Saturday 17 August)

Jamaica 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Adasa Richardson 30, Lukas Beyer OG 55, Jeremai Nanton 70), Aruba 1 (Jonatan Quintero 47) at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Sunday 18 August)

Aruba 0, Jamaica 6 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 5 (Jahmiah Gibbes 19, 26 pen, Reagan Rowe 49, Aaden Jones 59, Jaeden Anthony 70), Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Monday 19 August)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Aruba 2 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 0, Jamaica 2 (Davion Clarke 28, Carlondo Morris 37) at Dwight Yorke Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Tuesday 20 August)

Trinidad and Tobago v Saint Kitts and Nevis, 4.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Jamaica v Aruba, 6.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium.

(Friday 23 August)

Group A winners v Group B runners-up, Semis, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Group B winners v Group A runners-up, Semis, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Sunday 25 August)

Third-place playoff and Finals, Dwight Yorke Stadium.