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Eighteen year old wonder boy Levi Garcia marked his senior international Trinidad and Tobago debut with a decisive double, as the “Soca Warriors” came from behind to edge St Vincent and the Grenadines 3-2 in a Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier at Arnos Vale.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
It was a largely stodgy performance from Trinidad and Tobago, as they trailed 1-0 at halftime and always looked vulnerable to St Vincent’s menace on the counter attack.
But it all changed when Garcia stepped on to the field, as a 62nd minute change for right back Daneil Cyrus, and instantly imposed himself on the “Vincey Heat” backline as the game came to a cracking conclusion.
Trinidad and Tobago coach Stephen Hart chose to start the contest with an improvised line-up that saw full back Justin Hoyte play in an advanced position on the right flank.
If the pairing of Cyrus and Hoyte was meant to offer solidity to the Warriors’ right side, it did not work.
St Vincent had the first good chance of the match as midfielder Emerald George won the ball near the halfway line and tore into space behind Cyrus to collect a return pass from Myron Samuel. Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Phillip was quick off his line to apply pressure, though, and George stabbed wide.
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
The Warriors were seeing more of the ball and left back Aubrey David, who was a bustling figure in the half, stepped in off the flank and forced a sharp save from opposing goalkeeper Lemus Christopher.
Christopher came up trumps again, in the 33rd minute, with a fine low save to deny Trinidad and Tobago captain Kenwyne Jones, after a threaded pass from Khaleem Hyland.
Christopher, incidentally, was one of an eye-raising eight changes in the Vincentian starting team from their last qualifier as coach Cornelius Huggins opted for fresh legs. The average age of the Vincey Heat team was 24, some three years younger than their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts.
The Warriors might have been thinking about halftime drinks when disaster struck in the 44th minute. Seattle Sounders attacker Oalex “Bounty” Anderson, a genuine rising star at just 20 years old, slipped behind the defence for burly striker David Pitt, who was clattered by Phillip for a cast-iron penalty.
If anything, Phillip was lucky that Panamian referee Jose Kellys did not show a card as well.
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Samuel, who led the Vincentian offensive line superbly, calmly converted the penalty for a surprise lead to the hosts.
Christopher began his time wasting antics, like delaying picking up the ball in open play, from within seconds of the second half. But the following 45 minutes did not go anything like he planned.
Joevin Jones helped bring the two island republic level in the 51st minute with an inswinging corner kick that was inadvertently headed past Christopher by his own defender, Shemol Trimmingham, for the equaliser.
Hart introduced Garcia for Cyrus, as the Warriors finally got a winger on the pitch with Joevin more prominent in central areas.
Huggins replaced Pitt with Shandel Samuel, a former San Juan Jabloteh striker, to ensure Vincey Heat had fresh legs upfront who were capable of exploiting any Trinidad and Tobago turnover.
Garcia made his mark first.
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Kenwyne jumped high to flick on a pass with his head—in a rare escape from excellent Vincentian defender and captain Roy Richards—and Garcia immediately squared up opposing full back Akeem Williams and danced inside him, before blasting home at Christopher’s near post in the 71st minute.
It was some debut for the whiz kid, who made his first Pro League appearance for T&TEC FC at 15 and signed a pre-contract for Eredivise club, AZ Alkmaar, at just 17 years old.
He is already Trinidad and Tobago’s youngest ever goal scorer in a European top flight competition, which is a mark he poached from ex-Manchester United star and 2006 World Cup captain Dwight Yorke.
The 33 year old Samuel (S) had no intention of conceding the spotlight to a kid barely old enough to drive, though.
In the 76th minute, just five minutes after Garcia’s strike, Vincentian enforcer Jarrel McMaster, who is built like a bouncer and hits like one, showed his ability on the ball as he exploited space to thread a diagonal ball to Anderson, who had slipped behind Hoyte.
And Anderson cleverly played the ball across the opposing defence for Samuel (S) to tap past an exposed Phillip.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Trinidad and Tobago had thrown away a hard-fought advantage and Hart might have looked sadly in the direction of England-born midfielder John Bostock, who missed the affair after an administrative error by the Warriors technical staff.
Boucaud was out of sorts on the dry, treacherous Vincentian pitch while Hyland and playmaker Kevin Molino, who was making his first appearance of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, toiled without much end product.
But little Levi made it all look so easy.
Hart, suitably encouraged by Garcia’s progress, sent on the teenager’s former National Under-20 teammate, Neveal Hackshaw, and they quickly combined to devastating effect.
Hackshaw had space to pick out Garcia with a lofted diagonal pass behind the opposing defence and the Netherlands-based winger finished decisively below Christopher’s body for a 3-2 lead.
There might have even been a hattrick for Garcia but the angle was too tight, as he volleyed another effort across the face of goal.
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
And there was even an effective yet flashy dribbling exhibition, as Garcia executed a perfect “spanner” by pushing the ball on the outside of his left boot then flicking it the opposite way, in one fluent movement, to beat Shawn Benjamin out of his shoes.
It was enough for three points and a fresh breath of air in the Warriors’ push towards Russia.
Trinidad and Tobago can virtually seal their place in CONCACAF’s final qualifying round on Tuesday evening, when they host the Vincey Heat from 7 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The side plot, though, is that it would be Garcia’s first home international as a senior player. At this rate, it is worth being a part of that story.
(Team)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Marvin Phillip (GK); 5.Daneil Cyrus (16.Levi Garcia 62), 4.Sheldon Bateau, 18.Yohance Marshall, 2.Aubrey David; 8.Khaleem Hyland, 14.Andre Boucaud (6.Neveal Hackshaw 80); 13.Justin Hoyte, 10.Kevin Molino, 3.Joevin Jones; 9.Kenwyne Jones (captain) (11.Willis Plaza 90).
Unused substitutes: 24.Adrian Foncette (GK), 7.Hughtun Hector, 12.Sean De Silva, 17.Mekeil Williams, 19.Shahdon Winchester, 20.Trevin Caear, 23.Jomal Williams.
Coach: Stephen Hart
St Vincent and the Grenadines: 1.Lemus Christopher (GK); 14.Akeem Williams, 5.Shawn Benjamin, 3.Roy Richards (captain), 16.Jolanshoy McDowall, 4.Jarrel McMaster, 6.Shemol Trimmingham, 10.Oalex Anderson, 17.Emerald George (7.Kyle Edwards 83), 21.David Pitt (19.Shandel Samuel 66), 9.Myron Samuel.
Unused substitutes: 22.Kevan Henry (GK), 8.Darren Hamlett, 15.Kevin Francis, 20.Durwin Ross.
Coach: Cornelius Huggins
Referee: Jose Kellys (Panama)
Man of the Match: Levi Garcia (Trinidad and Tobago)
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers
(25 March 2016)
St Vincent and the Grenadines 2 (Myron Samuel 49 pen, Shandel Samuel), Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Shemol Trimmingham OG 51, Levi Garcia 71, 81) at Arnos Vale.
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Usa hit em 6 Guatemala hit em 4 …pretty descent might be stretching it a bit …
Cheryl Pierre not against St. Vincent what will happen when we play stronger opposition eg France, Brazil etc…
Truly a breath of fresh air. So cool, confident and decisive. A better debut cannot be imagined even if he wrote the script himself.
Well I am hoping from now on he will be given the chance to start the next game and onwards eh,and even give him the captain’s armband and put that bound not to score fella on the bench. steuupss. Them really good yes.
“Bound not to score fella”… Lol…..
hahahaha Yeah we have Wilfred ‘Bound to score” Cave, (St. Benedicts) and Kenwhyne “Bound not to score” Jones, and it is only me that can pound him and meh Soca Worries eh.Them really good yes.
The team has a real good synergy at present….. You can see the comraderie and the hunger in the players…. They want this, and they will make this qualification happen…..
Great article Lasana Liburd – though I’m not sure about that “perfect spanner” comment. Cyah be a perfect spanner if you don’t recover the ball. ?
Lol. Gerrard bladed him and ref called foul.
Saw the goals and our defence was asleep ….. but I’m pretty sure if we saw it then Coach Hart saw it too ….think he’ll make some adjustments for the next game.
Watched the highlights Lasana. Too much space in midfield for the opposition from both teams. That is poor. Against better teams you cannot concede so much space. But I will take the win. Serious improvement needed. Wingback’s need to track the runners so that they don’t get in behind so easily.
He can’t be cleared by Tuesday Lasana Liburd?
Nah. Little chance of that.
At least the precedent is it takes weeks or even months.
i hope we can retain him for later on in the campaign
Yep. Because after chasing him for three years, Bostock is going to leave Trinidad uncapped and still able to play for Scotland if he chose to.
What you think Keith? Hopefully someone gets him a really nice roti I guess.
Boy roti! Doubles everything! This can be bad eh
People we don’t need Bostock! Stick with our local players!
I can’t believe after chasing him that long we didn’t find out what the protocol was. I could understand if it was a quick thing, smh
I’d say Bostock can definitely help us in the centre. Even if it is for rotation or more competition for players.
I’d give Mekeil and Hackshaw a shot. And of course Levi. Too bad Bostock isn’t available. 🙁
I would really like to see Caesar get a shot up front or on wing on Tuesday.
I see Trevin as a good impact player to have. Our formation doesn’t suit him too well because he isn’t a wide midfielder or your normal target man. He is best with a strike partner.
Agreed, not your classic striker but I have seen him improve from Northeast days to now. He plays bigger than his size. Just want to see him get a shot..
He told me he would consider all his players for both games. I’d think he will give some of the older heads a rest for more energy. Because St Vincent have plenty of that.
So I’d rest Hoyte and either Hyland or Boucaud.
rest being the kind word lol
Lol. Nah. It is hard to single out anyone really. They were pretty much all sub par.
Except for the subs.
Hoyte was really terrible on that second goal though
That football field reminded me of when I played colleges football way back in the seventies. I trust that on Tuesday next the assignment for the soca warriors would be much easier!
But Hart did say that Molino was unlikely to start two games so close to each other. So does he start again Tuesday?
Levi was my MoM too Jerron Abasali. But he had little competition in T&T line-up. I thought the St Vincent captain was outstanding.
Agreed on MotM. Also liked the Vincy goalie as well. He was pretty good.
There were times I thought we were really stretched too. Our back line seemed to be miles away from our attacking players at times.
I guess they asked Daneil Cyrus to stay at home because of St Vincent’s pace. But it was still a disjointed performance.
But I know Kevin Molino will get better and Boucaud and Joevin usually are more impactful than that.
Lol if you see Hoyte and Cyrus start on the same flank again I guarantee there won’t be any joga bonito.
..Not even jogo bonito. Just an overall good performance. When I look at Costa Rica and Jamaica I say good job we got Guate and Vincy. Our level is not nearly what will be required against the best in the hex..
To my esteemed football panel and my fellow couch potatoes… Are we due a slick performance by now though?
I know we can’t quarrel with the points we keep picking up. But will we finally get some panache on Tuesday? Will there be any excuse if we don’t get it?
We were away in Guatemala, so it was just about the points. Against the USA… well, it was the USA.
In St Vincent? Anyone could see the field was poor.
Oh gorm. Let’s see some joga bonito nah. Lol.
A win is a win. It wouldn’t always be pretty.
Shaka sounds and looks so vex!
http://www.espnfc.com/video/espn-fc-tv/86/video/2837127/hislop-tandt-has-talent-to-reach-world-cup
Guatemala leading 2-0 after 24…could complicate things if it remains this way
I hear you Lasana. That is unacceptable.
I missed the game Lasana Liburd was it a good 3-2 win or a scrappy win?
Definitely scrappy and unconvincing. I do want to think the playing surface had a part to play. We really are due a good performance and I hope we get one on Tuesday.
ok. I just listening to Shaka Hislop’s comments. His facial expression says more than his words. Seems like (in his opinion) it was an awful performance by a top flight team.
I’d agree with that. We got out of jail. Not that St Vincent were good. But we didn’t do enough.
Well hopefully Tuesday is better, because it will only get more difficult after.
St Vincent and the Grenadines had players wearing different numbers to what was on team sheet. I’ve never seen anything so shambolic in a World Cup qualifier before.
Talk to your match commissioner buddies Norris Ferguson! Lol.
Not yet
3-2? Against St. Vincent???SMFH!!
We beat them just 2-1 at home in 2004 and went on to qualify for the Germany 2006 World Cup eh. So might not be such a bad omen.
Bigger score is USA losing!
Today was mixed for me. Happiness and grey hair. TWICE!!
The game was disappointing mostly until Levi Garcia showed up.
Didn’t see it live but everyone’s saying the same thing. Well, three points are three points I suppose.
The Levi Garcia revolution was televised for me too Michael Samuel. Ministry of National Security is taking its sweet time replacing my stolen passport!
I’m grounded like Jack Warner these days! 🙂
Shite! Well at least this revolution was televised.
Still Lasana?
Yeah Sav. I started late. Granted. But it has been about two months now. Will have to check up again.
My renewal was abt 3 months. Hope you get thru soon.
Lasana Liburd pay them the extra $500. It will come real quick.
I am happy to do that David. But I ent even reach there yet! I went Sangre Grande, did form, and it was supposed to go POS for approval and then come back for that payment.
Don’t understand what’s up and they don’t answer the phone in Grande apparently. Probably too busy not seeing about my application. Lol.
So I have to go in.
When the late Keith Smith was here, he was like gold. One phone call and your passport ready in a day. ??
Glad for the win, disappointing performance for us viewers. But difficult conditions to play under.
Well done guys but 3-2 vs St. Vincent?? Need to do better than that.
Same thing I was thinking and I don’t even follow football…that was too close :/
Melissa Gordon St. Vincent not to sound harsh but they are inferior opposition we should be beating those teams by 5 goals to nil if we really want to compete against the bigger nations.
I was thinking the same thing…this ‘win’ was unconvincing :/
Going and watch them Tuesday want to see a thrashing not these kind of score lines. Time for Trinidad to be a force in world football.
Lol what ah ting ….helluva debut son!!
big debut I am so happy and proud of this young man he deserves it
A lot of potential in Levi. Very bright future ahead. TnT got lively as soon as he came on.
The kid has somethnig.
Boom!
We didn’t play well but we won! WI didn’t play well and they won. I guess that’s important. A lot of factors involved. The pitch, strong ocean breeze. I don’t think we had a discipline approach. Especially after taking the lead. We always look like scoring. At the other end they also look like they would score. Mental and tactical discipline is key. Lasana Liburd the article not pulling up man. Saying some kind of error
Reza Abasali http://wired868.com/2016/01/30/levi-is-t-teenaged-winger-strikes-against-nec/
Stadium sell out now!
Never ! Expect about 10-15000
I’ll bet ya! Drinks on the loser!
Doh bring no chubby here inno.
Brooklyn Bar after
I waiting for her to make a proper bet Savitri
???@chubby!
Loser buys drink of winner’s choosing!
Savitri will decide the winner.
Deal !
Everyvody will want to see Levi play now Kirwin
Tell him try to reach on time nah…
I.will wring his ears this time
Stadium capacity is 23000 Chabeth, so I’ll give you 21000+ as sold out. So 15001-20999…bet cancelled, agreed ?
Lol. I’ll be on time.
Yeah, people will want to see Levi. Just wish Bostock could have played too. Steupse
The bet get complicated yes…lol.
So under 15k…you win.
21k and over… I win.
Anything else… Savitri buying?
Got it!
Correct !
Hahaha, Savitri get Casa duties !!!
How come I in this now?
I driving eh
That’s why you buying and not drinking! ???
Hahaha Chabeth..i refereeing
Allyuh like ting eh ?
look thing lol
You in on the bet Roneil ?
lol nah I just observing
I like all wins.. call me easily pleased.
Lol
Didn’t understand the starting of hoyte and Cyrus on the right because they are the same type of players and I think we came out complacent feeling it would of bin a walk in the park… well I guess the coach got wht he wanted a player to run at the other teams defense… Levi came on and showed that him playing outside is a big difference his touches were great and he made penetrating runs to ask something of the Vincy defense if he can build a understanding with Molino we can have something for the next round
Can only guess that whoever was St Vincent left side player was one of their threatening quick players
To be honest Calvin, Levi doing them sorta things long time
I think they were thinking the #10 for Vincy would of start on that side and even if they did all could have bin done was switch Bateau to LCB to give whoever played out there the cover because he is the faster of the 2 CB
Yea I saw him in the U20 and Dion told me about him but he showed that with the right environment he can be special
Our outside backs didn’t play well at all
Aubry didn’t play to bad we just not get our body in the right position to see many and ball we always have to b chasing
Never easy playing on those cricket grounds i.e 2014 WCQ defeat in Guyana
That to… I think by now fifa should do something about that
I agree Colin Benjamin but that doesn’t stop you from defending properly
Yeah. Aubrey got up and down well. But he had problems getting early crosses in on that surface I think.
M.Williams may start Tuesday I think
How about the center backs too. They were sometimes left on islands. SVG left two forward up all the time in the second half. So when midfield and out dude backs didn’t recover..they were left numbers down situations.
But hey we won! 3 points important 3 points
Mekiel has to start Tuesday in my opinion. Damn. 2 goals scored came through Cyrus’ and Marshall’s side. All game Vincy kept slipping balls through there which indicates something isn’t right higher up the pitch too. Boucad wasn’t bad today but him and Hyland today was a long shot off
We don’t have a lot of pace in central defenders. But we are pretty solid there when they are not left totally exposed, which happened a few times.
Our most athletic central defender in my opinion is Carlyle Mitchell.
Carlyle should be starting in my opinion Lasana. I understand Hart’s decision this time around but we’ll need him for the hex.
If your not a fast defender u have to b in the right position or else u would get exposed…. reading of the game is very important…..I would take a great reader of the game over great athlete any day… (just my opinion )
Carlyle has all the attributes of a good CB…plus…he have badmind and comes up with a goal ever so often…when it matters too
..Nah. Was a win and we happy to take it. But it wasn’t a good win. That was a looong way of hexagonal standard..
Thought Boucaud had a decent first half and a more than decent case for a penalty.. Good win.
I thought he lost possession too much near the halfway line.
Latter part he got cheeky but ground wasn’t great either to be honest..
Check the Abasali brothers! Those guys are awesome!
He plays in Holland…..
Dodgy, yes but we scored and won! I am taking it
Levi Garcia..?..who is this guy..?..
like the pic Levi and Despers ….WINNERS