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The Trinidad and Tobago National Football Team suffered their joint highest defeat under head coach Stephen Hart today as the “Soca Warriors” crashed to a 3-0 loss away to Jordan in international friendly action.
Jordan have already played nine outings this year, including three Asian Cup qualifiers and one World Cup qualifier, and their extra sharpness showed in the lopsided result, which did not flatter the host nation.
Jordan, who are ranked at 103 in the world by FIFA, scored twice in the first 24 minutes before notching a third in the second half and could have easily extended their advantage as the Warriors fell apart in the closing minutes.
Hamza Al Dardour, playmaker Abdallah Deeb and Odai Al Saifi got each for the Jordanians.
In contrast, Trinidad and Tobago, whose football president Raymond Tim Kee looked on from the VIP seats, have now gone 480 minutes without a goal after failing to score in their last five outings, including extra time of the Caribbean Cup final against Jamaica.
It was also their fourth straight defeat, which is their worst run of form since Hart took over in June 2013.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
The Warriors, who were making their third outing of the year after narrow defeats to Panama and Curaçao, could not move the ball around fast enough to unsettle the Jordanian backline. And Slovakia-based winger Lester Peltier, Trinidad and Tobago’s most likely chance for penetration in the first half, was often crowded out.
There were early warning signs as right Aubrey David was forced into an awkward clearance for a corner in his own penalty area, after just six minutes. While, a minute later, Warriors defender Daneil Cyrus deflected an Al Dardour shot behind for another corner kick.
Jordan went ahead in the 16th minute as visiting captain Kenwyne Jones lost possession around the opposing penalty area and, on a swift and precise counter attack, Deeb threaded a pass for Al Dardour into the channel vacated by visiting left back Joevin Jones. The Jordanian responded with a calm finish around stranded Trinidad and Tobago custodian Jan-Michael Williams.
The Warriors might have equalised in the 21st minute as Peltier found Jones (K) in the box and the Cardiff City forward rounded the Jordan goalkeeper, only to be put off by the tight angle and retreating defenders.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
And the hosts rubbed salt into Trinidad and Tobago’s wounds by doubling their advantage in the 24th minute. United States-based winger Cordell Cato pulled out of a tackle and Hart’s midfield anchors, Khaleem Hyland and Andre Boucaud, were both AWOL as Deeb carried the ball for about 30 yards before beating Williams with a fine right footed effort from the edge of the box.
The Warriors did have their chances to pull a goal back.
Cyrus and Jones (K) combined well in the 35th minute but Hyland’s left footed effort was too close to the opposing goalkeeper. And substitute Willis Plaza muffed a header from a left side Cato cross in the 54th minute and then, 15 minutes later, failed to squeeze home an effort after a good build up from Keron Cummings and Jones (K).
Jordan’s third item was tough one to swallow as Williams, in a rare misjudgment, pushed a speculative Al Saifi effort into his own net in the 70th minute—while presumably trying to tip the shot overbar.
And a raft of substitutions saw the Warriors lose control of the midfield for the closing minutes as Jordan lay siege to the visiting goal. But for a defensive block by Cyrus and two flying saves from Williams, Trinidad and Tobago might have been truly embarrassed.
The Warriors lost 3-0 again today against Jordan.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Hart’s next outing is likely to be Trinidad and Tobago’s opening 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup group match against Guatemala on July 9, as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) financial woes have hampered the team’s pre-tournament preparation.
Guatemala would have played seven matches by then including fixtures against Uruguay, Mexico and the United States. Worryingly, the Warriors’ performance on the field today more closely resembled the off-field mayhem of its administrators than the solid, combative ethos that characterised Hart’s tenure thus far.
And, just as important, Trinidad and Tobago cannot seem to buy a goal without injured playmaker and 2014 Player of the Year, Kevin Molino.
(Team)
Trinidad and Tobago: 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK); 2.Aubrey David, 4.Sheldon Bateau, 6.Daneil Cyrus, 3.Joevin Jones; 23.Lester Peltier (20.Keron Cummings 60), 8.Khaleem Hyland (7.Sean De Silva 82), 14.Andre Boucaud (5.Leston Paul), 13.Cordell Cato (16.Shahdon Winchester 78); 11.Ataulla Guerra (10.Willis Plaza 46); 9.Kenwyne Jones (Captain) (26.Devorn Jorsling 77).
Unused substitutes: Marvin Phillip (GK), Radanfah Abu Bakr, Kaydion Gabriel, Mekeil Williams.
Coach: Stephen Hart
Molino will miss the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup through injury.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
International friendly
(Tue Jun 16)
Jordan 3 (Hamza Al Dardour 16, Abdallah Deeb 24, Odai Al Saifi 70), Trinidad and Tobago 0 at Amman, Jordan.
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Bruce Aanensen have you forgotten what Country we’re living in? In a perfect TnT everything you wrote is what should be done but this Country is seriously in a mess and i bet if you were to speak with Coach Hart personally he would agree with everything you wrote and he would probably tell you he tried some or all of the above to no avail. How can the Technical Staff get their program going with the ad hoc manner in which the TTFA does or does not do business. Can you imagine getting a phone call the night before telling you the team is going to Curacao first thing in the morning or finding you and your team on a flight to Jordan with no money in your pocket a la WWC/ Dallas scenario. Everyone questioning the Coach’s ability when he like other Coaches before him went without salaries for months on end while they had Families to feed. Meanwhile Tim Kee and his Band of Merry men smiling all the way to the bank and Sancho who was once in a similar predicament enjoying his corbeaux sweat and eating ah food. Wake me up when things change. Sincerely, Rip Van Winkle.
Respect to all contributors, but as previously discussed Lasana Liburd Football and it’s stakeholders needs to become politically advanced and educated. It’s the only way change can occur, without it no amount of plan or football philosophy can occur in our present state.
I said that months ago about corporate TT
Nothing can be worse than WI cricket at the moment, so let us not even go there.
What is needed with our football is a comprehensive plan from the coach with specific outcomes expected within a specified time frame.
A proper Management team who can prepare well thought out budgets, and be accountable for all money spent.
The Management team need to understand that their players come first. With the coach, they need to detail to the players what is expected of them, get their buy in to the expectations, and again with the support of the coach ENFORCE these expectations.
Then the funding must be forthcoming. Corporate T&T will not support unless they know that funding is being properly spent, and that they could have reasonable expectations that their association with the team will bring them benefits.
Lastly the Government MUST commit to ensuring that apart from Corporate funding they provide the necessary additional resources to allow the coaches and Management to have a realistic chance of success.
This is not rocket science.
It IS a lot worse. Have to agree with Lasana. There seems to be no morale in the team with TTFA in total disarray and no money ,not even for a training camp the Technical staff will have their work cut out. Coach Hart’s frustration was quite visible and i can’t think of any other coach who will take on this team under these circumstances.
Yes Lasana goals win matches!!!
Jan always does that kinda outstretched parry/punch thing when playing ProLeague. I would get so mad everytime he did it in the ProLeague. I guess he won’t be doing that anymore.
Lol this sounds very similar to West Indies cricket. But I suspect it’s a lot worse.
Football in T&T is a total wreck !!!
No goals Prince
Send the women’s senior team. They would play better than these fools any day. #MNTareJokers
We didn’t score against Paraguay? I forget
Things not looking too positive at all. Sighhh
The Socaworries didn’t even score a goal in their first ever World Cup in Germany in 2006 steeuuppss so what else is new Them really good yes.
new management, we want fenwick
I cant take it anymore
The story is always the same..bad administation, funding woes, insufficient pre tournamenr matches, lack of preparation…when will it all end? What is the tipping point? What is the darkest moment before the light…thus has to end…lord please!
I think coach Hart will leave just now its only so much he can endure, the political tussle is frustrating him and its being reflected in the results, because pride it seems has gone now in individuals own performance’s
Not a goal in about five matches with a national captain and striker who not playing regular football….
Prince Borde, we have had Combines in the States before, but not without controversy. LOL. Money, organization, and the willpower to see things through are missing.
YoungWarriors Ttff, I know some have been contacted, but all are supposed to be in a database. I have never seen it with my own eyes, but that is what I’ve been told.
And like de man I spoke to refuse to be part of all de politics. Wah ah go tell him? I don’t blame him
Pay is not de only issue. Yuh have lack of games, lack of camps etc. Some men doh want tuh jeopardies dey starting position in ah club to come and hot up dey head in Trini. Some like Nick De Leon may still be harboring hopes of a US callup.
Also when I first started chatting on this site I suggested that. Have a combine in the states, any where. Boy my notion was shot down. Just this weekend I represented Louisiana against Florida and of course a trini was playing on both sides. I ask him how come he never went back home and try out. First thing out of his mouth was you mad! I ent playing for not madness.
Nigel Myers… Have we been looking Nigel? I have forwarded names of possible players, none have ever been contacted… Daniel Carr is one such player…
Nigel all the other Caribbean island paying that good?