Hyland ends goal drought; Warriors open W/Cup campaign with win in Guatemala

The last time that Khaleem Hyland scored for Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning was prime minister, Fay-Ann Lyons was Road March champion and JW and Blaze had not yet written “Palance.”

But the Belgium-based midfielder’s cool finish from outside the box was a welcome sight for “Soca Warriors” fans last night as the Trinidad and Tobago team started their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win away to Guatemala.

Photo: Feeling it! Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland (centre) roars during Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying action last night in Guatemala City. Hyland scored in a 2-1 win for the "Soca Warriors." (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Feeling it!
Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland (centre) roars during Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying action last night in Guatemala City.
Hyland scored in a 2-1 win for the “Soca Warriors.”
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

You would have to go back even longer for Trinidad and Tobago’s last successful visit to the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City. Hyland was just two months old when the “Land of the Hummingbird” last snatched a win in Guatemala.

Kerry Jamerson was the goal scorer then as the “Strike Squad” embarked on an unforgettable—although ultimately unsuccessful—push towards the Italy 1990 World Cup.


Can Hyland’s strike similarly inspire a fresh wave of belief in the “Red, White and Black?”

The Warriors’ performances at the 2015 Gold Cup have suggested that they might be capable of something memorable too and there will surely be a rush for tickets for next Tuesday’s home qualifier against the United States in Port of Spain.

US “soccer” has not seen anything like this current squad in Trinidad before, although that is a double-edged sword.

Traditionally, United States teams have come prepared to bully more lightweight T&T outfits stuffed with ball artists like Russell Latapy, Arnold Dwarika and David Nakhid.

Not these Warriors.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago players (from left) Khaleem Hyland, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Mekeil Williams, Daneil Cyrus and Sheldon Bateau celebrate their 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Guatemala. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago players (from left) Khaleem Hyland, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Mekeil Williams, Daneil Cyrus and Sheldon Bateau celebrate their 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Guatemala.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

“It was not pretty to watch at all,” Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart told Wired868. “The first half was littered with poor decisions in possession and a lack of movement. But we did better once (Kevan) George and (Cordell) Cato came on.”

Guatemala coach Ivan Sopegno, an Argentine native, might still be wondering what hit them.

At the July Gold Cup, Guatemala, who started with a 3-4-3 formation then, were exposed on the flanks and found themselves three goals down by the interval, after some rapid counterattacks.


Tonight, Sopegno made sure to squeeze space in the wide areas to protect against Trinidad and Tobago’s counter-attacking ability, while he often had two Guatemalans near to Joevin Jones.

Guatemala played two centre forwards too in an attempt to apply early pressure on the Warriors backline, which might have tickled Hart.

In their last friendly against Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago made a big show of playing the ball out from the back. But, Hart explained in private then, it was a decoy. And Sopegno’s tactical alteration left plenty of room for Andre Boucaud to operate in midfield.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Joevin Jones (centre) slips past Guatemala defenders Dennis Lopez (left) and Stefano Cincotta during World Cup qualifying action last night. The "Soca Warriors" won 2-1. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Joevin Jones (centre) slips past Guatemala defenders Dennis Lopez (left) and Stefano Cincotta during World Cup qualifying action last night.
The “Soca Warriors” won 2-1.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

The problem was Jones (J) was kept under closer observation than Ruth Marchan at Walmart and Lester Peltier, not for the first time, would have been completely invisible if not for sporadic moans at the Canadian match official, Mathieu Bourdeau.

Elsewhere, Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings rarely got close to captain Kenwyne Jones and left back Mekeil Williams offered little offensive help to Joevin.

It meant gridlock and Guatemala created the better opportunities during that period, as striker Gerson Tinoco and machiavellian captain Carlos Ruiz threatened constantly.

Trinidad and Tobago custodian Jan-Michael Williams was fortunate to save one Tinoco effort with his legs in the 12th minute while he twice reacted quickly to punch away from Ruiz.

At halftime, the Warriors had not managed a single attempt on goal and, worse, seemed to have no idea how to engineer a chance.

If anything, Guatemala made an even better start to the second half. Between the 55th and the 58th minutes, the Central American nation won five straight corner kicks as the Warriors were pinned back.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart gives instructions during a 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup fixture against El Salvador. (Copyright AFP 2014/Rich Schultz)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart gives instructions during a 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup fixture against El Salvador.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Rich Schultz)

That was when the Guatemalans were really in trouble though.

The likes of Trinidad and Tobago defenders Sheldon Bateau, Daneil Cyrus and Radanfah Abu Bakr can defend set pieces all day long. And it is when opponents smell blood and press forward in their numbers that the Warriors are most dangerous.

But Hart still had not made that dramatic and decisive shuffle of his chess pieces.

In the 61st and 63rd minutes, he brought on midfield destroyer Kevan George and speed demon Cordell Cato at the expense of Cummings and Peltier respectively. And the barrel-chested Hyland was pushed into an advanced midfield role, as was the case for the final 25 minutes against Nicaragua.

“I wanted Andre (Boucaud) and Hyland to put earlier pressure on (Jose Contreras) and (Fredy Thompson),” said Hart. “We were not dealing well with their five man midfield.”

But Hart got more than he bargained before as, in the 67th minute, the 26 year old midfielder won possession about 25 yards away from the Guatemala goal and calmly stroked the ball past partially unsighted opposing goalkeeper Paulo Motta and into the far corner.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland points the way during last month's friendly international against Nicaragua. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland points the way during last month’s friendly international against Nicaragua.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

On the last occasion that Hyland celebrated an international goal, Everton assistant coach Dennis Lawrence was still wearing Trinidad and Tobago colours, Cristiano Ronaldo was still a Manchester United player and Calder Hart was the UDECOTT executive chairman.

Trinidad and Tobago have never lost a game under Hart once they nosed ahead. And Guatemala soon discovered why.

Sopegno was forced to gamble now and off went auxiliary right back Stefano Cincotta in the 74th minute as Guatemala went on the offensive. And, six minutes later, Joevin took full advantage of the space, as he shaped a beautiful, curving ball into the path of his namesake, Kenwyne.

And the giant Cardiff city forward responded with a superb side footed volley into the far corner. It was his 15th international goal in 26 outings under Hart.

Incidentally, Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has managed 16 goals in his last 28 international appearances.

Food for thought, perhaps, for fans who are still unconvinced about Jones’ ability to lead the line for Trinidad and Tobago’s 2018 World Cup charge.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago captain Kenwyne Jones (left) volleys home his country's second item despite the best efforts of Guatemala defender Dennis Lopez. The "Soca Warriors" won their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier 2-1 in Guatemala City. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago captain Kenwyne Jones (left) volleys home his country’s second item despite the best efforts of Guatemala defender Dennis Lopez.
The “Soca Warriors” won their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier 2-1 in Guatemala City.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

There was a frustrating late blemish by the Warriors. Williams (JM) picked up a late caution for time wasting while, one minute into stoppage time, Trinidad and Tobago conceded a soft goal as Ruiz wriggled free in the penalty box and squared for substitute Carlos Mejia to convert.

But Guatemala could not get a second item and the final blast of Bourdeau’s whistle confirmed a successful three point haul for the Warriors.

The United States are next. Coach Klinsmann’s men will have to prepare themselves for a physical contest and an aerial battering while their tactics must be spot-on to resist Trinidad and Tobago’s quick offensive transition.

Oh how things have changed.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK); 5.Daneil Cyrus, 6.Radanfah Abu Bakr, 4.Sheldon Bateau, 17.Mekeil Williams; 8.Khaleem Hyland 14.Andre Boucaud; 23.Lester Peltier (13.Cordell Cato 63), 20.Keron Cummings (19.Kevan George 61), 3.Joevin Jones; 9.Kenwyne Jones (10.Willis Plaza 84).

Unused substitutes: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK), 7.Jonathan Glenn, 18.Yohance Marshall, 16.Justin Hoyte, 12.Carlyle Mitchell, 15.Neveal Hackshaw, 11.Trevin Caesar.

Coach: Stephen Hart

 

Guatemala (3-4-1-2): 12.Paulo Motta (GK); 4.Hamilton Lopez, 3.Elias Vasquez (6.Carlos Mejia 54), 13.Dennis Lopez; 18.Stefano Cincotta (7.Henry Lopez 74), 15.Fredy Thompson, 10.Jose Contreras, 11.Moises Hernandez; 16.Marco Papa; 9.Gerson Tinoco (22.Mynor Lopez 83), 20.Carlos Ruiz (captain),

Coach: Ivan Sopegno

 

Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau (Canada)

Man of the match: Khaleem Hyland (Trinidad and Tobago)

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland (right) tackles Guatemala captain Carlos Ruiz in 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup action. (Courtesy CONCACAF)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland (right) tackles Guatemala captain Carlos Ruiz in 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup action.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)

Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers

(Friday November 13)

Group C

Guatemala 1 (Carlos Mejia 90), Trinidad and Tobago 2 (Khaleem Hyland 67, Kenwyne Jones 80) at Guatemala City;

USA 6 (Bobby Wood 11, Fabian Johnson 29, Jozy Altidore 31, 74, Geoff Cameron 51, Gyasi Zardes 58), St Vincent and the Grenadines 1 (Oalex Anderson 5) at St Louis;

Group B

Jamaica 0, Panama 2 (Armando Cooper 43, Wes Morgan OG 52) at Kingston;

Costa Rica 1 (Christian Gamboa 29), Haiti 0 at San Jose

Group A

Mexico 3 (Andre Guardado 7, Hector Herrera 42, Carlos Vela 64), El Salvador 0 at Mexico City;

Canada 1 (Will Johnson 38), Honduras 0 at Vancouver.

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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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72 comments

  1. Just a few observations: Count the number of passes TnT completed; number of shots at goal and on target; amount of ball possession in the last 5 minutes of the game; use (or lack thereof) of the width of the field in the dying minutes of a game when we are ahead as compared to the opponents. We may have gotten the win but this kind of play is not WC level football. On the Sergio Aguero comparison, what was Argentina’s opposition compared to TnT?

  2. Win, lose or draw I’m supporting the red white and black as I’ve always done before. This has been our best in terms of performance that I’ve seen for quite sometime #GoSocaWarriors

  3. Great shots by Allan V. Crane btw!!

  4. You should know I never give up Kendall… Here’s Coach Hart’s Post-match comments, I’d say his view on the 1st half pretty much sums up your POV :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TtViP7m5i8

  5. I agree with Kendall Tull in a lot of ways. But then again football can be a strange game, especially when you get into those minute technical aspects about whether a defender, mid-fielders, forward could have done X or Y better in a particular moment of a match.

    Seen so many football games like the game in Guatemala where you see a defense make mistakes and they were not finished off, which indeed leaves you worried about what a better attacking team can do to them.

    Yet next game team plays, those perceived faults are actually never exposed by new better opposition (in this case USA on tuesday) or the team (TT defenders) actually just defends better.

    • My p.o.v exactly. Sometimes you miss a dozen and go score 5 next game. I think your mindset and opposition are major factors in this

    • Ye and who knows after winning in Guatemala now – and the obvious tactical adjustment Hart will suggest to his defense after noticing those faults from 1st half – they could very well and be better in home conditions – with no additional pressure of HAVING to beat the USA in this game

  6. Don’t bother Brian. It seems that my comments are being misconstrued. I have no interest in continuing this discussion. Time will tell.

  7. All that you said above is true Prince Borde but I encourage you to look at the Guatemala game again, we def need to improve our defending as Guatemala squandered SEVERAL gilt-edged chances Friday night…all Kendall Tull is cautioning is that we dont allow the US THOSE type of opportunities…I too however feel we can and will win on Tuesday night, but we have a habit of conceding late that has me a bit concerned…Hart is a master tactician tho, so I Believe we will be on 6 points after Tuesday night!

  8. Jamaica beat the US with similar tactics. this current Trinidad team fits defending a US team better than the Central Americans. We are big, strong, fast and athletic. There is no Papa on the US team. They don’t keep the ball as well as Guatemala. Kendall under hart we finish first in our group. Beat a Guatemala in Guatemala for how many years. Even the great Argentina has flaws. We have to play to our strengths. I don’t like it but we have won games, so I applaud this team and the staff. If we get to the hex it will be another major accomplishment for this team. Remember we were written off by a lot of people eh.

  9. Step by step Kendall. We know our opponents. We have played every major nation in CONCACAF apart from Costa Rica and the US at the last two Gold Cups.
    So we will know exactly what we need to do.

  10. Success isn’t winning a game or two Lasana, it’s achieving your goal on a consistent basis. In this case, the goal is qualifying for the World Cup. That tactic will not work. Much tougher opponents lie ahead.

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