“Ten minutes of madness!” T&T U-20s fall 3-1 to Jamaica, despite Sween strike

After making their international bow with a 3-2 international friendly win over Jamaica last week, the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team got their first taste of defeat this afternoon as they fell 3-1 to the young “Reggae Boyz” at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.

Three goals in an eight-minute burst settled the affair in favour of the visitors, although the match was keenly contested until the end and kept the small crowd entertained throughout.

“They are a good cohesive group—even though the result went the way it did, nobody pointed fingers at anybody,” Trinidad and Tobago coach Brian Haynes told Wired868. “[…] Life goes on, things happen like that and now we have to learn from it.”

On the other bench, Jamaica Under-20 head coach John Wall was not getting too carried away either.

Last Thursday, Wall noted that the young Soca Warriors got two of their three goals from set pieces and the other from a turnover. Today, ironically, Jamaica scored twice from deadball opportunities themselves while their other item came from an own goal.

Last week, he did not feel like his Boyz were played off the field at UTT Campus in O’Meara; and he did not suggest that they battered the Warriors at the Larry Gomes either.

“Goals change games,” said Wall. “We were fortunate, but we actually started in the expected way—not in terms of the goals but in the intention. We were a bit more direct in the beginning, just to force Trinidad backwards.

“And we reaped the benefits of some good set pieces taken.”

Across the two matches, Haynes fielded 28 players for Trinidad and Tobago. However, the bulk of those minutes went to a core of about 15 players.

He made just two changes to his starting lineup today with Cody Cooper replacing Akil Henry in central defence—and taking over the captain’s armband from Presentation College (San Fernando) teammate Levi Jones—while Tyrell Moore came in for Michael Chaves upfront.

(Incidentally, Jamaica made four changes to their own starting team.)

Haynes explained that he is unable to give suitable minutes to his charges at training due to the large number of his training squad, which still numbers around 40 players. So, he used the Jamaica friendly to give upwards of an hour’s playing time to his current starters.

Across both games, right back Joshua Figaro got a combined 20 minutes, while 17 of the 25 minutes that midfielder Nathan Quashie spent on the field were in an unfamiliar left back role.

Presumably, it is never going to be an easy job managing playing time with a group that technical director Anton Corneal labelled as the most gifted youth team he has seen in over a decade.

Today, though, they got a dose of humility.

Moore should have put Trinidad and Tobago ahead in the opening five minutes, but failed to finish a presentable chance.

“We got the first chance of the game and a player slipped,” said Haynes.

Jamaica were not so wasteful.

Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Tor Fletcher saved an early penalty in the seventh minute, after a handled ball by defender Russel Francois. But from the resulting corner, midfielder Denzel McKenzie put the visitors ahead with a precise finish in the far corner, after an exchange with a teammate from a corner kick.

And, eight minutes later, McKenzie again comprehensively—and perhaps too easily!—beat Fletcher from a set piece.

This time, Fletcher failed to guard the right corner from a free kick, after incorrectly guessing at McKenzie’s motives.

McKenzie’s double sandwiched a Francois own goal, as the defender slid to cut out a cross but inadvertently diverted the ball into the back of the net.

“Ten minutes of madness, that is when all the goals scored,” said Haynes. “It is something I take the blame for—not the players. I need to prepare them enough to be ready for any game that we’re playing.

“We played a game one week ago, we win 3-2 and we think okay, this is an easy game. And here comes three chances and they put away theirs.”

Haynes gave a peep into his coaching philosophy when, just 21 minutes into a friendly, he made a substitution. Off came winger Malachi Webb, and in went midfielder Kanye Francis.

“I apologised to [Webb] and told him it wasn’t anything personal,” said Haynes. “I wanted to change the way we were playing, from the 4-2-3-1 into a 4-4-2 diamond, where I have four guys in the middle. I thought [Jamaica] were having too much joy in the middle.

“[…] I told him it was a tactical change and he understood—at least I hope he did! I talk to all these players just the same, put my arms around them and talk to them because they are good young men.”

Francis might have pulled a goal back for the Warriors in the 36th minute, but saw his tremendous volley crash off the underside of the bar and bounce back out.

Lindell Sween eventually narrowed the deficit in the 44th minute, with a composed finish off a squared pass in the area by Moore. And flanker Jlon Matthews was a whisker away from another item in first half stoppage time with a dipping volley that just cleared the bar.

Chaves came on, five minutes into the second half, and failed to take two half-chances. And, at the other end, Trinidad and Tobago’s Canada-based substitute goalkeeper Bryan Gafiuk made two sharp saves to keep Jamaica from extending their lead.

All the while, the game was played with the typical tenacity of a Trinidad and Tobago-Jamaica contest. Intriguingly, the visitors came off second-best with most of the physical challenges, but they did not shy away from the sly off-the-ball jabs.

Francis, by the way, did not finish the game either.

“When we got control of the midfield again, I said okay [Francis] did his job—let’s get some guys in who need to get some [playing] time,” said Haynes. “And they did good, they didn’t give up any goals.

“While we didn’t win the game, the experience that they got is something that we can’t [get] in practice.”

At his unveiling as national youth coach last year, Haynes stated his preference for possession-oriented football. There has not been enough evidence of that so far, with his players somewhat disjointed in attack—his full backs and holding midfielders, for instance, are not inclined to push into areas that would allow additional passing options to his wingers.

But the coach admitted that the young Warriors remain a work in progress, as he has worked almost entirely on defence up to this point.

“It was choppy,” Haynes said, of his team’s showing. “At times we controlled the game and at times we were not in control, […] by which I mean we were not calm (in possession).”

Wall also admitted that he has much to do with his troops.

“We are not at the stage where we can have a specific game plan just because it is Trinidad or whoever it is,” said the Swedish coach. “We are still trying to build our foundation, and I think we have been adding some layers to it—especially more of a solid defensive structure.

“Based on this game and the last game, we are the guys creating the goals for Trinidad in both games.”

Jamaica are drawn against Bermuda, Grenada and Martinique in Group F, which will be staged in St Kitts. Trinidad and Tobago host Group D, which includes Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The games run between 23 and 27 February.

The players eligible to join the Trinidad and Tobago squad include flanker Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia, right back Rio Cardines, midfielder Jeremiah Cateau, forward Larry Noel and goalkeeper Ailan Panton.

And Haynes hinted that there were plenty more talented overseas-based players who hope to suit up for Trinidad and Tobago at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship.

Today, forward Addae Paponette, who migrated to England a few years ago, played the closing 12 minutes while US-based midfielder Caleb Borneo, who was invited to feature with the last Under-20 team under Angus Eve, trained last week.

“This group has made me proud,” said Haynes. “I am saying this right now—I love it that we have players coming from overseas, but we have good soccer players in Trinidad.

“If the guys that are coming in are not challenging these guys, this is what I’m going with.”

Haynes revealed that there will be a residential camp for his squad between 9 and 14 February (from Carnival Friday to Ash Wednesday), in which he hopes to have his full contingent of potential players.

There should be a practice game or two against a local-based Men’s National Senior Team during that period.

From that point, he will have just nine days to get his final team ready for their opening Concacaf Under-20 qualifier against the “Vincy Heat”.

Trinidad and Tobago football fans would hope he uses that time wisely.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Tor Fletcher (GK) (22.Bryan Gafiuk [GK] 65); 5.Lyshaun Morris (14.Akil Henry 73), 4.Cody Cooper (captain), 3.Russel Francois (19.Jabari Forbes 81), 2.Duhrell Young (23.Nathan Quashie 73); 8.Abayomi George (16.Tau Lamsee 78), 6.Levi Jones (20.Addae Paponette 78); 7.Jlon Matthews (15.Joshua Figaro 78), 10.Lindell Sween (18.Michael Chaves 49), 11.Malachi Webb (12.Kanye Francis 21 [15.Aidan De Gannes 65]); 9.Tyrell Moore (17.Andell Fraser 57).

Unused substitute: 21.Makaya Taylor (GK).

Coach: Brian Haynes

Jamaica (4-2-3-1): 1.Joshua Grant (GK); 2.Malachi Molina, 3.Kyron Horsley McKay, 4.Michael Forbes, 5.Rolando Barrett; 15.Adrian Reid, 18.Romarion Thomas; 10.Brian Burkett, 6.Denzel McKenzie, 12.Christopher Ainsworth; 19.Tyrese Gowe.

Substitutes: 13.Taywane Lynch (GK), 23.D’Jone Davis (GK), 7.Jahmani Bell, 8.Kobi Thomas, 9.Tarik Scott, 11.Malachi Grant, 14.Keyanni Jackson, 17.Omario Henry, 20.Nickoy Gayle, 21.Dunsting Cohen, 22.Demarion Harris.

Coach: John Wall

Referee: Kwinsi Williams

International friendly

(Thursday 1 February)

Trinidad and Tobago 1 (Lindell Sween 44), Jamaica 3 (Denzel McKenzie 8, 16, Russel Francois OG 12) at Larry Gomes Stadium.