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Trinidad and Tobago had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Guyana in their opening Fifa U-17 World Cup qualifying match tonight at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The result leaves the young Soca Warriors with no more room for error in the competition. Captain Nikosi Foncette and his teammates must win their next three games against the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Sint Maarten and Costa Rica respectively, if they are to finish as group winners and book a place at the Qatar World Youth Cup.
(via TTFA Media.)
At present, BVI sit atop the group after a 4-0 win over Sint Maarten. On Sunday afternoon, BVI—whose technical director is former TTFA High Performance director Paul Decle—face Trinidad and Tobago from 6pm while Costa Rica challenge Sint Maarten from 9pm.
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Shawn Cooper has until then to rid his troops of their inhibitions.
Today, the young Warriors had the lion’s share of ball possession. But their passing was not quite fast or deceptive enough to put Guyana to the sword. In fact, the Golden Jaguars scored first.
Fourteen-year-old Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Levi Williams is considered to be a young man of remarkable technical ability. But he would need to prove his mental toughness after a calamitous start to the international game.
(via TTFA Media.)
In the 33rd minute, Williams dropped a corner kick from Guyana midfielder Quaency Fraser and left back Joshua Morris reacted first to prod home the loose ball. The Trinidad and Tobago defence did not react at all, actually, and Morris was allowed a touch to steady the ball before his straightforward finish.
The two-island republic looked rattled thereafter, with flanker Jasai Theophilus providing the only consistent threat. But Guyana never offered anything on the ball and Trinidad and Tobago regained control after the interval.
Forward Phillip Nelson nearly got the equaliser within seconds of the restart, as he diverted a Jaydon Caprietta corner kick towards goal—only to be thwarted by a fine reflex save from Guyana custodian Tejpal Nijjar.
However, in the 53rd minute, Trinidad and Tobago levelled scores. Caprietta made a bustling run down the left flank and pulled the ball for playmaker Dominic Joseph. The Guyana defence closed Joseph down, but the ball ricocheted into Nelson’s path and he pounced with an accurate shot on the turn.
(via TTFA Media.)
The Warriors never hit the heights they seemed capable of on the ball. But they won possession back as soon as they lost it and never gave Guyana a way back into the match.
But they could not finish off the Jaguars either.
Foncette released Nelson in the opposing box with a clever dinked left footed pass, only for the striker to splice his shot in the 57th minute.
(via TTFA Media.)
Then, in the 61st minute, Joseph played an inviting ball for Nelson to chase and the QRC schoolboy held off Guyana defender Tamer Unver well—but could not place his shot beyond Nijjar.
Caden Trestrail replaced Joseph, who began to cramp, in the 65th minute and, after collecting from fellow substitute Adasa Richardson, sent Caprietta free down the left in the 73rd minute. But Caprietta’s cross was a tad high for Nelson, who could not keep his header down.
Richardson and Trestrail both had half chances in the closing minutes but could not hit the target. And Guyana held on for a point.
(via TTFA Media.)
Trinidad and Tobago would need a savvier showing against the BVI on Sunday to keep their World Youth Cup dreams alive.
Teams
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Levi Williams (GK); 2.Talan McMillan, 20.Sheridan McNish, 4.Adam Pierre, 13.Chaz Williams; 16.Seth Hadeed, 6.Nikosi Foncette (captain); 7.Jasai Theophilus (14.Adasa Richardson 65), 10.Dominic Joseph (12.Caden Trestrail 65), 5.Jaydon Caprietta (11.Timothy Valentine 88); 9.Phillip Nelson (19.Josiah Kallicharan 75).
Unused substitutes: 18.Necose Moore (GK), 21.Mikhail Clement (GK), 3.Jimally Renne, 8.Criston Gomez, 15.Eran McLeod, 17.Quinton John.
Coach: Shawn Cooper
Guyana (4-4-2): 1.Tejpal Nijjar (GK) (18.Nyall Kendall GK 87); 14.Max Robinson, 5.Tamer Unver, 4.Michael Joseph, 3.Joshua Morris (2.Kemron Pellew 46); 11.Luke Langevine (20.Micaiah De Freitas 60), 6.Mikkel Mills, 8.Shaquan David (captain), 7.Quaency Fraser; 9.Dakari Drakes, 10.Jaden Harris (19.Isaiah Ifill 89).
Unused substitutes: 21.Flavio Larose (GK), 12.Aiden Herd, 13.Onesi Dunn, 15.Kila Newland, 16.Jerimiah Welcome, 17.Reid Ramlochan.
Coach: Marco Bonofiglio.
(via TTFA Media.)
Concacaf U-17 World Cup qualifiers
(Fri 7 February 2025)
British Virgin Islands 4 (Sam Sharma 34, Latriel Williams 62, Luca Stuttard 69, 73), Sint Maarten 0 at San Jose
Trinidad and Tobago 1 (Phillip Nelson 54), Guyana 1 (Joshua Morris 33) at San Jose
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