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Trinidad and Tobago are through to the quarterfinal round of the Concacaf Nations League for the first time. But, after three successive wins in Group A, they somehow ended up stumbling through the door—after a 5-3 loss away to Curaçao.
The Soca Warriors needed only a draw to advance. However, a high scoring defeat meant coach Angus Eve had to look over his shoulder in the dying minutes.
(Copyright Miguel Gutierrez/ Straffon Images)
At one stage, as Curaçao led 3-0, Martinique would have advanced ahead of Trinidad and Tobago with any triumph away to El Salvador.
A late comeback of sorts, with second half goals by Reon Moore and substitutes Kristian Lee-Him and Kareem Moses, meant Martinique needed to win by two clear goals.
In the end, Martinique could not muster a single goal as their match ended goalless; and Eve’s troops were through. But there were still repercussions for a bizarre night in Willemstad.
Panama finished atop Group A, by virtue of a 3-0 win over Guatemala, and it meant the difference between facing Costa Rica and the United States in the quarterfinal round.
Photo: Concacaf
Concacaf confirmed that Trinidad and Tobago, who have a lower Concacaf ranking than Group B runners-up Honduras, will face the United States over two legs in the quarterfinal round.
The four semifinalists qualify automatically for the 2024 Copa America tournament, although the losing quarterfinalists have a second chance via a play-off against each other with two spots at stake.
As such, tonight was probably bittersweet for the Warriors.
Eve made two changes to his starting team that kicked off against Guatemala on Friday, with attackers Reon Moore and Kaïlé Auvray replacing Tyrone Charles and Noah Powder respectively.
(via TTFA Media)
Denzil Smith, who was replaced hurt last week, was deemed fit enough to start today.
Curaçao were relegated before kickoff and had nothing more than pride at stake. Yet within 15 minutes, the visitors were already two goals behind.
First, forward Rangelo Janga found room behind the Trinidad and Tobago defence to beat Smith in the seventh minute. And, five minutes later, Curaçao midfielder Godfried Roemeratoe finished off an exchange of passes with a crisp drive to double the hosts’ lead.
Eve made three changes at the interval and overhauled his formation too, as 4-2-3-1 gave way to 3-5-2. But things got worse before they got better, as substitute Kareem Moses upended an opponent for a clear penalty kick that Kenji Gorre (son of head coach Dean Gorre) converted.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Game over? Anything but!
Moore pulled a goal back for the Warriors with a tidy first time finish off a raking Ryan Telfer cross in the 68th minute. It was the soldier’s third goal in as many games.
In a flash, Trinidad and Tobago, who recovered to win from a two-goal deficit against Guatemala on Friday, were smelling another heroic comeback.
Lee-Him got his first international goal in the 74th minute with a low first time effort in the box, after fellow substitute Real Gill’s shot was charged down by an opponent. It was 3-2 at that point.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Then, in the space of two minutes, Curaçao got two more penalties. Smith dived to his left to smother Brandley Kuwas’ 77th minute effort, after Honduran referee Said Martinez penalized Warriors midfielder Andre Rampersad for a handled ball.
The Dutch-speaking islanders would not be denied on their next trip to the spot in the 78th minute. This time, Martinez ruled that Smith upended opposing attacker Joshua Zimmerman—a decision that spared Moses’ blushes as the defender banged an attempted clearance off teammate Justin “Shiggy” Garcia and into his own net.
Unperturbed, Juninho Bacuna made it 4-2 to Curaçao with his spot kick.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
And the lead was back at three goals in the 81st minute, as Janga scored with a header after teammate Roshon van Eijma struck the bar—with the Trinidad and Tobago defence at sea.
Moses narrowed the deficit in the 86th minute, as he bundled home after a right-side Alvin Jones free kick.
It seemed neither side had much interest in defence by then.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Notably, it was the third straight match that Trinidad and Tobago allowed over 20 shots on their goal with 11 (El Salvador), 11 (Guatemala) and 10 (Curaçao) on target respectively.
Can Eve maintain his current trajectory regardless of such defensive frailties?
For the moment, the answer is “yes”. The Warriors’ next competitive match is in Austin, Texas on 16 November.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Trinidad and Tobago lost 6-0 on their last clash with USA, just four months ago.
The pending rematch would be a true test of the Warriors’ progress since then.
(Team)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 22.Denzil Smith (GK); 16.Alvin Jones, 2.Aubrey David (captain), 17.Justin Garcia, 3.Ross Russell Jr (12.Kareem Moses 46); 15.Neveal Hackshaw (8.Noah Powder 87), 14.Michel-Poon-Angeron (23.Kristian Lee Him 46); 7.Ryan Telfer (11.Real Gill 71), 18.Andre Rampersad, 20.Kaïlé Auvray (6.Andre Raymond 46); 13.Reon Moore.
Unused substitutes: 1.Christopher Biggette (GK), 21.Jabari St Hillaire (GK), 4.Jesse Williams, 5.Kevon Goddard, 9.Nathaniel James, 10.Duane Muckette, 19.Tyrone Charles.
Coach: Angus Eve
(Copyright Jova Velazquez/ Straffon Images/ Concacaf)
Concacaf Nations League result
(Tue 17 October)
Curaçao 5 (Rangelo Janga 7, 81, Godfried Roemeratoe 12, Kenji Gorre 56 pen, Juninho Bacuna 78 pen), Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Reon Moore 68, Kristian Lee-Him 74, Kareem Moses 86) at Willemstad.
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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.
2 goals from the Grande connection.