T&T held goalless by Curaçao, as Dutchmen contain Yorke’s front three

Trinidad and Tobago had to settle for a point at home tonight, as they were held goalless by Curaçao in their opening match of the third and final Concacaf 2026 World Cup qualifying round.

The result saw Jamaica sail to the top of the group after a 4-0 win away to Bermuda in Devonshire.

The Soca Warriors travel to Kingston this weekend, in preparation for next Tuesday’s qualifier against Jamaica. Defeat would see the Reggae Boyz go five points clear in the first match window.

It is still early days of course, but already coach Dwight Yorke’s troops look short of wiggle room.

That’s not to say tonight’s outing was a disaster for the host nation. After a stodgy opening 45 minutes, the Soca Warriors lifted their energy appreciably in the second half.

And, in the 57th minute, Trinidad and Tobago should have gone ahead. Captain Kevin Molino, with a yard of space, threaded through a brilliant pass for Levi Garcia beyond the opposing defence.

Garcia looked fractionally offside but referee’s assistant Karen Diaz—one of three female Mexican match officials—did not raise her flag. Garcia could not get his low shot around Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room though.

It was the best chance of the game for either side. A draw always seemed likely after that, although midfielder Andre Rampersad had a header cleared off the goalline from a Dante Sealy corner kick two minutes earlier.

Up in the stands, Trinidad and Tobago football supported their team until the final whistle.

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Kieron Edwards could have increased the capacity by 5,000 seats and sold that too. Maybe he tried to do so anyway.

The covered stands were packed to capacity, with well over 100 people stuck in the passageway with no available seats—forced to watch the contest on their feet.

However, the sight of a full stadium at the kickoff suggests that the local football body at least improved the movement of supporters into the venue.

Yorke’s team, curiously, were late though. The team bus apparently got to the stadium at minutes to 7pm—barely in time to make use of the designated warm-up period.

Maybe it was not totally strange then that the Warriors started slowly, unable to consistently advance the ball from the back or keep hold of it. In contrast, their Dutch-speaking opponents were able to work the ball into areas from which they could encourage their wingers to have a charge.

Even then, when the visitors dictated the tempo of the contest, the pace, strength and directness of the Soca Warriors front three looked capable of dismantling veteran coach Dick Advocaat’s best-laid plans.

But it never quite happened.

Right back Shurando Sambo, a 24-year-old Sparta Rotterdam player, kept a decent watch on Trinidad and Tobago’s tearaway winger Tyrese Spicer.

Sealy made at least two telling passes but was not much more effective than Spicer on the other flank. And Garcia, for all his effort and verve, could not take the chance when it came his way.

Now, Trinidad and Tobago have it to do in Kingston against our fierce north Caribbean rivals.

The Jamaica-Trinidad and Tobago rivalry has been one-sided in recent times—and’s that being generous.

Trinidad and Tobago’s last competitive win over the Reggae Boyz came in the 2001 Caribbean Cup tournament, while their last competitive draw was in 2008. Molino was still a teenager then; Garcia was in primary school.

Are Trinidad and Tobago due a result against Jamaica then?

Yorke would certainly hope that’s how it works.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-1-3): 22.Denzil Smith (GK); 19.Rio Cardines, 5.Josiah Trimmingham (6.Jerrin Jackie 90), 3.Kobi Henry, 23.Noah Powder; 8.Daniel Phillips, 18.Andre Rampersad (vice-captain); 10.Kevin Molino (captain) (7.Steffen Yeates 83); 15.Dante Sealy (12.Ryan Telfer 83), 11.Levi Garcia (16.Justin Obikwu 83), 13.Tyrese Spicer.

Unused substitutes: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK), 21.Jabari St Hillaire (GK), 2.Darnell Hospedales, 4.Isaiah Garcia, 9.Nathaniel James, 14.Wayne Frederick II, 17.Justin Garcia, 20.Kaïlé Auvray.

Coach: Dwight Yorke.

Curaçao (5-4-1): 1.Eloy Room (GK); 2.Shurandy Sambo, 3.Jurien Gaari, 20.Riechedly Bazoer (15.Ar’jany Martha 66), 4.Roshon Van Eijma, 5.Sherel Floranus; 16.Jearl Margaritha (14.Tarith Chong 62), 8.Livano Comenencia (9.Jurgen Locadia 62), 10.Leandro Bacuna (captain), 11.Jeremy Antonisse (17.Tyrese Noslin 86); 7.Juninho Bacuna (6.Godfried Roemeratoe 86).

Unused substitutes: 22.Leandro Merencia (GK), 23.Trevor Doornbusch (GK), 12.Joshua Zimmerman, 18.Jurich Carolina, 19.Gervane Kastaneer, 21.Kevin Felida.

Coach: Dick Advocaat.

Referee: Katia Garcia (Mexico).

2026 World Cup qualifying

Group B

(5 September 2025)

Trinidad and Tobago 0, Curaçao 0 at Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Bermuda 0, Jamaica 4 (Damion Lowe 6, Renaldo Cephas 26, Kasey Palmer 58, Shamar Nicholson 90) at Bermuda National Stadium.

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Lasana Liburd

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.