Soca Warriors lose 2-0 to World Cup-bound Iran in Brazil

The Trinidad and Tobago team national football completed its mini-South America tour this afternoon in Sao Paulo, Brazil with a 2-0 defeat against World Cup-bound Iran.

The result follows a 3-0 loss against Argentina on Wednesday in Buenos Aires. Argentina and Iran are both drawn in Group F of the Brazil 2014 World Cup alongside Nigeria and Bosnia.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Radanfah Abu Bakr (right) challenges Iran forward Ashkan Dejagah for the ball. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Radanfah Abu Bakr (right) challenges Iran forward Ashkan Dejagah for the ball.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Elsewhere, regional rival, Jamaica, was put to the sword away in France where the “Reggae Boyz” were routed 8-0 by the host team who shook off the absence of star player Franck Ribery, who will miss the World Cup due to a nagging back injury.

It was a more low keyed affair in Sao Paulo as the media was not allowed to cover Trinidad and Tobago’s clash with Iran although  live updates were relayed from the TTFA press officer through the Soca Warriors Facebook page. And, as in their friendly international with Argentina, the “Soca Warriors” contrived to concede goals late in the first half and soon after the resumption.

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart credited his players for their effort although he urged them to be more assertive and match the enterprise they showed in the final 20 minutes.

“It was not a bad performance but I thought we allowed (Iran) to take charge at some points of the game,” Hart told the TTFA Media. “We could have been stronger and not allowed them to get into certain positions.

“Again we conceded just at a point before the half and that changes the mindset in the dressing room before the team comes back out. That is something we’ll work on.”

Lester Peltier had a chance to put the Warriors ahead, early in the first half, but shot wide of the target.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams (centre) collides with Iran forward Ashkan Dejagah as he makes a punched clearance. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/TTFA)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams (centre) collides with Iran forward Ashkan Dejagah as he makes a punched clearance.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/TTFA)

Iran made Trinidad and Tobago pay in the final kick of the first half as 24-year-old midfielder Ehsan Haji Safi drove past Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams following a right side corner.

Six minutes into the second half, Iran won a penalty kick after a foul by Trinidad and Tobago right back Justin Hoyte on striker Ashkan Dejagah. But Warriors custodian Jan-Michael Williams denied Javad Nekounam from the spot with a flying stop.

Three minutes later, Iran did double its lead though as Reza Ghoochannejad buried an opportunity on a counter attack.

Hart made six changes in the second half and the Pro League duo of Willis Plaza and Trevin Caesar made an immediate impact with the latter winning two free kicks in dangerous areas. But the Warriors could not end their tour with a goal.


Hart described the trip as a wonderful opportunity.

“We are trying to get to that level and our kind of preparation now is not where Iran or Argentina would be at this point in time,” he said. “Overall we had a wonderful opportunity for some of our less experienced players to play at a high level and on a stage where we want to be at on a consistent basis.

“We’ll look back at these matches and pick out what will serve us well going forward. We still have some way to go but it’s all part of the process to getting where we want to be at.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago national defenders Radanfah Abu Bakr (centre) and Sheldon Bateau (right) try to clear the danger against Iran this afternoon in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago national defenders Radanfah Abu Bakr (centre) and Sheldon Bateau (right) try to clear the danger against Iran this afternoon in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Defence Force utility player Curtis Gonzales and Caledonia AIA veteran playmaker Densill Theobald were the only members of the 22-man squad that did not feature in either game—apart from Point Fortin Civic custodian Marvin Phillip who left Brazil on Friday night after the tragic death of his 10-month-old son, Maitai Phillip.

The 2014 World Cup kicks off on Thursday in Sao Paulo where hosts Brazil face Croatia in a Group A contest while Argentina and Iran open their Group F campaigns on June 15 and 16 respectively.

Trinidad and Tobago’s next scheduled round of matches will take place in the 2014 Caribbean Cup semifinal qualifying phase from October 6 to 13.

(Team)

Trinidad and Tobago: 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK); 2.Justin Hoyte, 6.Radanfah Abu Bakr, 12.Yohance Marshall 4.Sheldon Bateau (17.Gavin Hoyte 72); 8.Khaleem Hyland, 14.Andre Boucaud (5.Kevan George 63); 23.Lester Peltier (16.Marcus Joseph 83), 7.Ataulla Guerra (3.Joevin Jones 63), 10.Kevin Molino (20.Trevin Caesar 80); 9.Kenwyne Jones (captain) (11.Willis Plaza 76).

Unused substitutes: 13.Rundell Winchester, 15.Curtis Gonzales, 18.Densill Theobald, 19.Carlyle Mitchell.

Coach: Stephen Hart

 

International Friendly

Iran 2 (Ehsan Haji Safi 45, Reza Ghoochannejad 54), Trinidad and Tobago 0 in Sao Paulo

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78 comments

  1. If you could explain to me how Bebe get on a manchester united roster, then I might be able to answer your question, lol

  2. Tell me about it, and the U.S striker Brian Mc Bride, who Stern was light years better than was making EPL teams like nothing.

  3. But wait if Stern John was such ah goalscoring machine ent how come he never played for a big team like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, or Arsenal or any other team in the EPL eh. Them really good yes.

  4. Mark you really in the dark yes and it seems that you is always defending that corrupted organization called the TTFA ent the next time you see Hudson Charles ask him if he and the other local coaches have yet to be paid.

  5. You know I was thinking these national coaches think the fans knows nothing about the sport fans pick better team in Trinidad football why Lazy Jones is sill leading our national team

  6. Srry ppl I know my comments sound harsh, like a mad man talking but if footballers, coaches, fans dont get rid of all who are presently there in d TTFA we will never get anywhere

  7. The TTFA needs to get off their ASS and find way & means to get finances instead of waiting for handout from d gov’t, then our football will rise. But wit this bunch of political administrators in d TTFA – boi somebody give me a gun & I will ensure we in d next wc

  8. Not forgetting the MLS where he destroyed all records in that leaguehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r42fSgsN4HE

  9. yuh asking the wrong question, is who have the most goals for our sweet country and even the pro league in England. hehehehe

  10. Stern John did the hardest work of all… Putting it in the back of the net!

  11. I wonder who has more work rate S-John or K-Jones….Hmmmmmmm

  12. …That not happening again…not anymore Uncle…the coaches themselves wouldn’t stand for that

  13. They did their best. Now time to regroup and forge ahead.

  14. Well once they stop exploiting our players and local coaches and stop always wanting them to play and coach for free while they continue to reap the benefits ent.

  15. …..I know they have a very long way to go Uncle…but i believe that exactly 1 year from now…this T&T team would have improved a lot….as a Soca Warriors fan i want that to happen and i believe that it will…i am not speaking just as a fan…but how i see how they respond to Stephen Hart

  16. hehehehehe yuh just know how to raise meh blood pressure when you mention that name ent.

  17. Mark so what are you disagreeing about eh, so our soca worries didn’t look scrappy the same man common and yuh sure right France wouldn’t have never missed those chances that Messi and the others players did lets be real nah or move the cobwebs from your eyes when you are looking at our team and really hoping for the best cause like you having flashbacks of the better days that have surely down gone a very long time ago ent. Mark really good yes.

  18. Brother that’s long time thing… We have K-Jones now

  19. ….I disagree….I looked at the game…Jamaica looked very scrappy…i rate France just under Argentina in terms of their strengths…but even though they would play based on the opposition…i don’t believe we would have lost that game so heavy….mind you….if you look at the first half-hour against Argentina…T&T was good for about 7 or 8 lol lol

  20. oh really like you didn’t read meh article about the Pan American games or what ent we got 8 from Brazil and our players were far much better than our players today. Them really good yes.

  21. and they wudda punish us the same if we had played them first instead of Argentina the way we played.

  22. I don’t believe Trinidad will ever ever ever get 8 goals in 1 game

  23. …France punish Jamaica Uncle…and you know France is is one of my teams…the other is the Orange Army…Holland

  24. oh really against France, dem wasn’t sticking like Argentina you know, imagine certain people football God didn’t even score ent. Them really good yes.

  25. If France had played against our soca worries eh the score might have been the same and it just shows that the Caribbean teams ain’t ready for the big times et all and will never be any time soon in the near future because the football officials agendas is always about exploiting the players.Them really good yes.

  26. …But you have to admit though…even if they are trailing in a game…at least they are still trying to keep possession….they are still playing to the system and not losing the plot…Hart definitely has gotten the team to improve…it may be in small doses…but i am sure we wouldn’t have lost 8-0 like Jamaica did today

  27. I just want this team to go from strength to strength.

  28. Terry, Shabazz, and Stuart Charles Fevrier, would have surely gave the younger players their chances in the both games because the time now is for them no matter the outcome and I dun talk. Them really good yes.

  29. More games like the last two are needed and the “process” needs to be continued ….# optimistic

  30. Thanks, they never become experienced unless you give experiences.
    My post was about the future, nothing to lose now but lots to gain if we had experimented more.

  31. …Mind you…i would have loved to have seen Winchester run at Iran’s defence…he is not the finished article…but he is the future…but i do agree with you Terry

  32. …Well said Terence William Fenwick…but coach Hart has to answer that…in addition as a coach yourself…you are aware that your decisions wouldn’t please everbody

  33. The results were not the most disappointing aspect of this tour, with 6 players available as substitutes we didn’t “blood” enough players.
    Why didn’t we give the younger inexperienced players more exposure to this level of football?
    With nothing to lose or gain, why worry about scores and reputations.
    An opportunity lost!

  34. Ah get real mess up. there I was watching an ESPN show on the media in World Cup and waiting to see Italy in its warm up match. They did a round up of the results of the friendlies and had 2 next to T&T and 0 next to Iran. Yuh girl start jumpin up an biggin up cuz. ….and then…. Still proud of the fellas though.

  35. Jam down played with a very young team hard luck Jamaica 8-0

  36. Move Tim kee and put who??…… Please !!!

  37. Vernal,please dont compare.When everybody else is getting some natural disaster we get governments that dont know their ass from their elbow…..

  38. The program needs to be more removed from government to be successful. As long as it isn’t it will always be subject to the influence of politics and politicians.

    When the U.S. plays abroad how many government dignitaries have you ever heard being members of the junket?

  39. Lets hope when Tim Kee and the rest of them return to our sweet country eh, they just resign and allow the right folks to run the program yes Like Brent Sancho, Shaka Hislop, and Kelvin Jack. Them really good yes.

  40. No, but there certainly in a state of turmoil now.
    That is indisputable.

  41. Vernal yuh think is only now the country and our team in ah state of turmoil. Them really good yes.

  42. It would be tough for T&T playing with all the distractions surrounding it. The Siparia rhythm section, permanent secretaries and various big wigs taking precedents over Soca Warrior interests and all.
    Not to mention the tragic death of the reserve goalkeepers infant son. The country and therefore the team is in a state of turmoil.

  43. Do you have any information on the Paraguay August friendly and European September friendlies mentioned by the express?

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