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Trinidad and Tobago head coach Derek King has the first win of his tenure, on his 10th full international outing, as the Soca Warriors defeated Antigua and Barbuda 3-2 tonight in the first of a two-legged Concacaf Play-In tie.
But King might have winced at the final score, as the two-island republic somehow left the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in North Sound with only a one goal aggregate lead—despite dominating their hapless hosts.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Ranked 163rd in the world, Antigua and Barbuda are the weakest team, according to Fifa’s weighting system, that Trinidad and Tobago have faced in over two years. And, quite possibly, the Fifa rankings flatter the “Benna Boyz”.
Certainly, defence is not a strength for Antigua and Barbuda. Their team, coached by Jacques Passy—a Mexican who never worked as head coach for a professional team in his homeland—set their defensive line at the halfway mark, but their shape practically disintegrated whenever the Soca Warriors managed a pass beyond their first line of resistance.
At one point in the first half, Trinidad and Tobago were opening up the opposing defence as casually and frequently as a fridge on the weekend.
At the half, the Warriors led 3-1 and a rout seemed a distinct possibility. Yet, for all of Trinidad and Tobago’s dominance—the visitors enjoyed 69% ball possession with 299 completed passes to 107—the number of touches in the opposition’s penalty box was 11 to the Warriors and 7 to the Benna Boyz.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
At times, King’s troops counter-pressed effectively. But, far too often against a team with 21 amateurs in their 23-man squad, Trinidad and Tobago were exposed on the break, with defenders Justin Garcia and Jahiem Joseph forced to defend one-v-one against opposing attackers.
Playing without the likes of captain Levi Garcia, injured attackers Tyrese Spicer and Dante Sealy, and suspended midfielder Daniel Phillips, Trinidad and Tobago were bound to be a little short of quality.
But the space that the Warriors conceded to Antigua and Barbuda spoke to either a lack of balance in their team’s tactical approach, poor workrate by the T&T attackers, or a lack of professionalism against a weaker team—or a combination of all three.
Remarkably, Antigua and Barbuda opened the scoring after just three minutes. Midfielder Sean Tomlinson literally launched himself at a corner kick by Dion Pereira, as he diverted the ball past Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Denzil Smith, off a deflection from make-shift left back Ryan Telfer.
(via Antigua Observer.)
The goal was pure desire, and the Warriors were found wanting there.
Trinidad and Tobago’s equaliser, 12 minutes later, spoke to the lack of quality and experience in the opposing team, though. Attacking midfielder Dantaye Gilbert shot straight at goalkeeper Shahoi Dorsett, only for the ball to slip through the latter’s gloves and between his legs to score.
Attacker Real Gill put T&T ahead, three minutes later, after an exchange with playmaker Molik Khan on the edge of the Antigua and Barbuda 18-yard box. And, in the 45th minute, Khan got a second assist with a clever inswinging cross from the left flank that defender Justin Garcia flicked home.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Trinidad and Tobago were in control and looked capable of scoring at will.
Telfer was taking up interesting positions to help the visitors advance the ball, captain Andre Rampersad was regulating the tempo of the game efficiently and Gill was unstoppable against Antigua and Barbuda’s leaden-foot defenders.
Luke Phillip, a box-to-box midfielder who did a decent impression of a bustling centre forward in a 1-1 draw against Curaçao last month, was not at his best though.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
It is hard to know sometimes what Gilbert’s role is, as he roams all over the field and sometimes seems to get in the way of his holding midfielders, in his lust for a touch.
Is that by design or off-the-cuff? To Gilbert’s credit, he still gets into dangerous positions at the right side of the field. And it is possible that King is simply not dogmatic about the offensive positions that his players pick up.
Such flexibility could make the Warriors unpredictable in a positive way when they attack. But it could also make it difficult to regain one’s defensive shape at the moment that possession is lost.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
King sent on forward Nathaniel James for Khan at the interval, in what should have been a positive attacking change. But across 45 minutes, James recorded one shot and no chances created, as Trinidad and Tobago began to lack incisiveness.
And, although the Warriors’ ball possession remained over 60%, Antigua and Barbuda outshot Trinidad and Tobago by five to two in the second half.
King retained his back four and Rampersad at holding midfield, but changed his entire front five. The fresh legs did not particularly help the team in offence or defence, though.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
And, three minutes into stoppage time, the hosts cut their deficit to a single goal, as substitute Brandon Satchell stepped inside Telfer at the edge of the Trinidad and Tobago box to beat Smith with a fine, angled left-footed strike, which arrowed low into the far corner.
The away goals rule is in effect for the Play-In and Antigua and Barbuda need goals in Port of Spain to eliminate the Warriors. Almost certainly, they lack the firepower to win a shootout with Trinidad and Tobago—especially if the likes of Levi Garcia, Rio Cardines, Kobi Henry, Michel Poon-Angeron, and Steffen Yeates join the team at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Monday 16th November.
King has his first win as head coach and is heavily favoured to make it two-in-a-row against the same opponent next week. But this is not convincing stuff yet.
Trinidad and Tobago are yet to record a clean sheet after 10 games under Derek King this year.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 22.Denzil Smith (GK); 2.Déron Payne, 4.Jaheim Joseph, 17.Justin Garcia, 7.Ryan Telfer; 14.Wayne Frederick II (23.Noah Powder 87), 18.Andre Rampersad (captain), 10.Molik Khan (9.Nathaniel James 46); 20.Real Gill (6.Kaihim Thomas 74), 8.Luke Phillip (12.Shervohnez Hamilton 87), 15.Dantaye Gilbert (16.Daniel David 74).
Unused substitutes: 1.Jahiem Wickham (GK), 21.Teshorne Ragoo (GK), 3.Andre Raymond, 5.Neveal Hackshaw, 11.Kathon St Hillaire, 13.Ali Kazim Nakhid, 19.Nicholas Dillon.
Coach: Derek King.
Antigua and Barbuda (4-5-1): 21.Shahoi Dorsett (GK); 2.Amir Daley, 11.Quinton Griffith, 17.Leroy Graham (22.Blavion James 78), 3.Kylano Isaac; 14.Jahzihno O’Garro (vice-captain), 8.Sean Tomlinson, 10.Thomas-James Bramble (captain) (23.Vaughn Jackson 46), 9.Dion Pereira (20.Brandon Satchell 60), 16.Kayonte George (15.Daryl Massicot 60); 19.D’Andre Bishop (13.Ashley Nathaniel-George 60).
Unused substitutes: 1.Jayden Martin (GK), 18.Zaieem Scott (GK), 4.Dajari Barthley, 5.Shakore Simon, 6.Tyrik Hughes, 7.Raheem Deterville, 12.Kemoi Walsh.
Coach: Jacques Passy.
Referee: Adonis Carrasco (Dominican Republic).
Photo: TTFA Media.
Concacaf Play-In
(Thu 12 November)
Antigua and Barbuda 2 (Sean Tomlison 3, Brandon Satchell 90+3), Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Dantaye Gilbert 15, Real Gill 25, Justin Garcia 45) at Sir Viv Richards Stadium in North Sound.
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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.
