Jordan whips Warriors; T&T’s winless streak stretches to five matches

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.

Photo: Jordan attacker Hamza Al Dardour (left) celebrates with a teammate during a previous international fixture.
Photo: Jordan attacker Hamza Al Dardour (left) celebrates with a teammate during a previous international fixture.

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.

Photo: Jordan Prince Ali bin Hussein and Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee pose before kick off with the Jordan and Trinidad and Tobago football teams. (Courtesy TTFA Media)
Photo: Jordan Prince Ali bin Hussein and Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee pose before kick off with the Jordan and Trinidad and Tobago football teams.
(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.

Photo: Jordan attacker Hamza Al Dardour (foreground) tries to shoot the ball past Trinidad and Tobago defender Daneil Cyrus and goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams. (Courtesy TTFA Media)
Photo: Jordan attacker Hamza Al Dardour (foreground) tries to shoot the ball past Trinidad and Tobago defender Daneil Cyrus and goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams.
(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.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago national senior team coach Stephen Hart studies his options during a 3-0 friendly defeat against Argentina in June 2014. The Warriors lost 3-0 again today against Jordan. (Courtesy CONCACAF)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago national senior team coach Stephen Hart studies his options during a 3-0 friendly defeat against Argentina in June 2014.
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

Photo: Antigua and Barbuda midfielder Joshua Parker (left) barges into Trinidad and Tobago attacker Kevin Molino during 2014 Caribbean Cup qualifying action. Molino will miss the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup through injury. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Antigua and Barbuda midfielder Joshua Parker (left) barges into Trinidad and Tobago attacker Kevin Molino during 2014 Caribbean Cup qualifying action.
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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About 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.

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81 comments

  1. We have been looking at overseas talent, but playing for T&T is a tough sell to a foreign-born especially given the nonsense that has been going on over the last few years.

  2. Why not Prince, everybody else doing it. Leave no stone unturned

  3. Me eh know but passion and desire is something that you bring when you are proud to wear the shirt. If guys don’t want to play fire them and bring in young kids. I saw on that second goal Cyrus and the other defender playing casually, not acceptable.

  4. Should we do like the other Caribbean islands and look overseas for talent?

  5. Strong words by the coach. Lack of desire and no passion is unbelievable for a national team player. Hopefully he have the guts to cut them.

  6. Head Coach Stephen Hart reflects on Trinidad and Tobago’s 3-0 loss to Jordan. You can hear the frustration in his voice.

  7. Nah boy! He celebrating with de man! Think we got paid to lose? Them thing cross me mind now with FIFA boy

  8. 4 games, 4 losses, 0 goals scored….. I recall questioning why Jerrel Britto was not selected for this team…. Was mentioned that system Hart is playing did not really suit his inclusion… Maybe Hart should question his unsuccessful system….

  9. Tim Kee in Jordan? Wonder what other “officials” were there? At whose expense?

  10. I look forward to your article on the ‘deeper problems’. Get to work:-)

  11. The coach has never been able to implement his plan because there is no budget for it. So it is hard to say that Eric A St Bernard. The problem is much deeper than the players and coaches.

  12. T&T has no program, no plan, no policy. We were just fortunate to have some exceptional talent some years ago. And we never hold administrators accountable. Guess it’s just the West Indian way

  13. T&T has no program, no plan, no policy. We were just fortunate to have some exceptional talent some years ago. And we never hold administrators accountable. Guess it’s just the West Indian way

  14. I had hoped for a better result too. But I guess the signs were there.

  15. Point well taken Lasana. Pro League provides little development.

  16. He is a big boy Stephon. He definitely has had a bad year. Think Leston Paul is ready to step up and take his place? Or Dwane James?
    Part of the problem is the Pro League players lack international exposure and physical readiness too.

  17. Remember it wasn’t always like this. Bertille St Clair played about over a half dozen warm up matches before the Gold Cup when we got to the semifinal. And we were playing teams like Colombia and Morocco (or was it Egypt?).
    Poor Hart got the job at a bad time.

  18. Hyland is physically big? He needs to stop this muscle game he trying to master and play football. His game has significantly regressed.

  19. The Administration of football here is crap and until that changes we should not expect anything from the team.

  20. Once we fail to prepare, we must prepare to fail. This must be very rough on the players and technical staff and to think of the Life Sport wastage and what that money could have done, makes me angry.

  21. Those goals were all bad… sorry. School boy defending at its best. Our central defenders should be embarrassed from the little i saw. No effort what-so-ever….

  22. Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United could afford a pre-season.
    I once asked Bobby Robson for advice for the T&T team. He said play as many games as you can. The striker should know exactly what his left winger is going to try when he has the ball. And you only get that from playing regularly together.
    Some of the players today never played together before. Not even once.

  23. Alex Ferguson was a master at using mediocre players and getting a teams to perform beyond expectations

  24. Physically big players need more games to get in form than smaller ones. And Kenwyne Jones and Khaleem Hyland haven’t played much this year.
    Essentially, it is a pre-season team playing against a team in mid-season. I think that should be factored in too.

  25. I concur. Lots of teams perform well without having “talented” players. They do the little things great.

  26. And I forgot. Highly disciplined.

  27. If you don’t have a high sports IQ you are unlikely to make my team no matter how much talent you have. Intelligent players for the most part make better players and I am not talking about book sense here . That has been the problem with sport in general in this country and to a certain extent the wider West Indies

  28. Hyland is a very promising player.
    He’s been promising without delivering for over five years now.

  29. Several of our important players did not play enough last season. Like Khaleem Hyland and Kenwyne Jones for instance.
    Without international games, it means we are rusty. All Stephen Hart can do is try to recreate that intensity as best as possible in training because we can’t afford warm up games.
    And, worse, we don’t even have a training camp confirmed yet. It is a tough ask. Not impossible. But not far from it.

  30. Saw the highlights! Where is the midfield! Jan Michael gifted the 3rd goal and not sure if he needed to rush out so wild on the the first goal. And not sure why our back four just kept dropping and dropping for the second goal! This look like jokes

  31. That second goal was really shocking. Boucaud and Hyland used to be our rocks in front of the defence. Can they find form before the Gold Cup with no practice matches?
    And our opposition will be at full strength. If we don’t defeat Guatemala, we might as well book our flight home.

  32. Lasana, what is the solution really? I know the TTFA is shyte but these fellas need some backbone too.

    • Several of our important players did not play enough last season. Like Khaleem Hyland and Kenwyne Jones for instance.
      Without international games, it means we are rusty. All Stephen Hart can do is try to recreate that intensity as best as possible in training because we can’t afford warm up games.
      And, worse, we don’t even have a training camp confirmed yet. It is a tough ask. Not impossible. But not far from it.

  33. All of Hart’s earlier good work is slowly being undone. We did have some good spells in the match, but as usual, we lacked intensity and aggression. Did not close down the Jordanians fast enough. We tend to let teams come out of their own half without applying much pressure. The first two goals were hard to watch, especially the second one. Man run from half-line without so much as a tackle being thrown, and I didn’t like Jan’s positioning either. Not a white shirt was in sight on that run.

  34. Thought they stood a good chance since they beat Saudi Arabia recently. Oh well

  35. well said Kenneth. T&T football has been in a mess for some time now, the structures and policies are flawed at every level. money will help but will just be a plaster on a wound. the womens team that just missed the WC deserves maximum credit because they did most of it all on their won and with support and sacrifices from themselves and those around. pure desire and pride. it’s a shame that such a beautiful and popular sport, that can be used to influence so much positives if approached correctly, is being run into the mud here in T&T.

  36. this is very very worrying!! this is very close to our full strength team for the first time i am worried for my coach Hart

  37. That team is as disfunctional as its administration… What do we expect? Our football is in ruin right now. Putting it bluntly, we stink

  38. I didn’t expect a 3-0 defeat. We only ever lost by this margin before against Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

  39. What seems to be the problem? Oh wait… ” (TTFA) financial woes have hampered the team’s pre-tournament preparation.”

  40. Is it a reflection of the National football governing body’s leadership? Hmmmm… Regardless, I hoped the best but expected the disappointing results. I was prepared because sportsmen and women cannot excel comfortably when their leaders and managers are in turmoil; when they, the sportsmen/women, are not respected. Their confidence level will be low.

  41. Seriously let’s be honest were we expected to win the match…..

  42. Preseason, mid season, scmidseason. Can a mid season t and t beat a preseason germany! All are professionals. Players have chosen their careers and should be prepared enough to show at least HART on the pitch!

  43. So much for snapping the losing streak….

  44. It doesnt matter if a budget is in place. The team cannot win every game. Can this team beat a 1970 Brazil Team? For those of you who say no for whatever reason, those are actually some of the reasons we cant win today. I still think that this group of players make a top ten team in the world. Just some adjustments to make here and there.

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