Molino and ‘Bongo’ net; but Jamaica hold off T&T 3-2 in Unity Cup

The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team will play for third place in the Unity Cup invitational tournament on Saturday 31 May, after the Soca Warriors fell 3-2 to Jamaica today in a pulsating affair at the GTech Community Stadium in London.

Coach Dwight Yorke’s team overturned a two-goal deficit with items from debutant forward Isaiah ‘Bongo’ Leacock and his Defence Force teammate Kevin Molino, only to be undone by a stoppage time penalty from Jamaican defender Richard King.

On the balance of play, it would be mean-spirited to begrudge Jamaica their victory. Yet, the Soca Warriors might easily have won the game themselves.

In the 84th minute, midfielder Joevin Jones released fellow substitute John-Paul Rochford with a gorgeous measured pass. The angle was tight for Rochford and opposing goalkeeper Shaquan Davis made a fine save.

However, Rochford picked up the rebound and had the presence of mind to tee up Rio Cardines—only for the 19-year-old Crystal Palace youth team player to hit over with his weaker left foot.

Had Cardines kept his composure, Trinidad and Tobago would have gone ahead 3-2. It would have been difficult to believe such a reversal was possible at one stage.

In the first half, the Reggae Boyz were the superior outfit.

Trinidad and Tobago took a while to get going offensively, while Yorke’s team looked exposed in transition—unable to stop Jamaican attacks at the source or slow them down at the other end.

Jelani Peters, making his first international appearance for Yorke and his fifth senior cap overall at the age of 31, looked suspect defensively, despite being fairly tidy in possession.

Still, it was Peters’ centre-back partner, 37-year-old Jamal Jack, who conceded the first penalty kick of the match, after being beaten with almost nonchalant ease by Jamaica attacker Renaldo Cephas in the 24th minute.

And Hull City midfielder Kasey Palmer, one of several England-born players in the Jamaica team, put the Reggae Boyz ahead with a Panenka-style penalty.

Jack and Peters have their strengths, but it would be generous to say that defending looked to be one of them. And their teammates would have to do far better at covering for the pair, if Yorke intends to continue extending their international careers.

It was not until the 33rd minute that Trinidad and Tobago got their first proper look at the opposing goal, as Cardines picked off a slack pass from Jamaica midfield bolt Isaac Hayden but blazed his eventual shot overbar from the edge of the area.

If that Jamaican casualness seemed like a blip at the time, it would become more pronounced as the game progressed.

In the 37th minute, veteran Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Phillip made a fine save from opposing forward Rumarn Burrell to stop the Boyz from doubling their advantage.

But the Warriors were improving on the ball by then and probably should have equalised in the 40th minute, as Molino volleyed wide with his left foot after a sweeping attacking move culminated in a cross from overlapping full back Alvin Jones.

The scoreline remained 1-0 to Jamaica at the interval and Yorke ought to have been relieved. But there were things to encourage him too.

The brightest note for Trinidad and Tobago? It was wrapped up in the #10 shirt.

Molino at 34 might not have the legs and lungs he once did. But his brain remains as sharp as it ever was and so does his technique.

Jamaica could not get him off the ball. And, once Molino had the ball, Trinidad and Tobago always appeared to have ideas—and a goal threat.

Cardines, enthusiastic, workmanlike and athletic, robbed dozy Jamaica left back Amari’i Bell, seconds after the restart, but could not beat Davis from the sharp angle that presented itself.

There was that Jamaican casualness again.

In the 49th minute, Leacock slipped while trying to press the opposing goalkeeper and needed some treatment on his ankle. It looked like time was up on what had been a forgettable debut, up until that point.

But physiotherapist Dr Oba Gulston did his thing and the Defence Force player soldiered on.

Jamaica did get their second goal in the 53rd minute, as Trinidad and Tobago—with eight players in their own penalty area—could not get to the ball after Phillip fended away a Palmer shot. And Burrell, an England-born forward with Burton Albion, scored with an overhead kick for a debut item.

The Boyz might have been still savouring that goal in their minds when Trinidad and Tobago struck back. Just seconds after Palmer’s effort, Cardines found Molino on the edge of the Jamaican penalty area; and Molino’s driven cross was finished with aplomb by Leacock.

Control. Bang!

Yep, ‘Bongo’ sure looked like an international striker in that moment.

Cephas wasted an excellent chance at the other end in the 64th minute. The Trinidad and Tobago defence, at all times, looked as incapable of stopping the progress of their yellow-shirted opponents as did short-lived ex-prime minister Stuart Young.

But the Soca Warriors offence was capable of inflicting damage too and it was probably an unsurprising surprise that Yorke’s troops levelled in the 68th minute.

Naturally, Molino was involved. The street-smart playmaker worked a one-two with Daniel Phillips and won a free kick deep in opposition territory. (Somehow, despite not being particularly powerful or pacy, Molino still finds a way to outfox defenders.)

Cardines’ free kick was of the highest quality but, sadly, rebounded off the bar. From there, the ball hit Davis on his heel and popped up in the air—as if bewitched—for Molino to casually head over the goal line. 2-2!

Things might have gotten even better for the Land of the Doubles, whisper it to Beenie Man, had Rochford and Cardines taken advantage of a superb lofted pass from Jones (J) in the 84th minute.

But, two minutes later, Phillip had to produce another flying save to deny Jamaica substitute Greg Leigh. And it looked like the game would be decided on penalty kicks.

Both teams travelled to London without their top players. Yorke was without Levi Garcia, Tyrese Spicer, Denzil Smith and Andre Rampersad.

Jamaican coach Steve McClaren did not have the services of Leon Bailey, Demarai Gray, Andre Blake, Shamar Nicholson, Michail Antonio, Bobby Reid, Michael Hector and, possibly, a certain Mason Greenwood.

Yorke might have felt heartened to boast of parity after regulation time. But it was not to be.

Inexplicably, Trinidad and Tobago substitute Justin Garcia felt Phillip had not done enough. So, three minutes into stoppage time, the lanky defender called the 40-year-old goalkeeper to cut out a through pass from Bell that he had every business dealing with himself.

Phillip tried, but only got there in time to knock Cephas off his feet. And Jamaica had their second penalty, which King, a 23-year-old Cavalier defender, dispatched emphatically.

Jamaica took the game 3-2 and will play in the Unity Cup final, while the Soca Warriors will play the loser between Nigeria and Ghana in the play-off.

All four nations are under-strength, as the game is outside the Fifa international match window. However, this friendly tournament offers a valuable chance for Yorke to gauge his system before a World Cup qualifier away to Costa Rica and Concacaf Gold Cup tussles with USA, Saudi Arabia and Haiti.

There were some things that would have encouraged Yorke this afternoon. But, collectively and individually, there is work to be done on the defensive end if he is to emulate former coach Stephen Hart in taking the Soca Warriors into the Gold Cup knockout phase.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Marvin Phillip (GK); 16.Alvin Jones, 5.Jamal Jack, 2.Jelani Peters (17.Justin Garcia 78), 6.Andre Raymond; 8.Daniel Phillips (19.Kristian Lee-Him 67), 7.Noah Powder, 10.Kevin Molino (captain) (3.Joevin Jones 78); 18.Rio Cardines, 11.Isaiah Leacock (13.Reon Moore 67), 15.Dantaye Gilbert (14.John-Paul Rochford 78).

Unused substitutes: 21.Jabari St Hillaire (GK), 4.Sheldon Bateau, 9.Duane Muckette, 12.Isaiah Lee, 20.Kaihim Thomas, 23.Brent Sam, 24.Jesse Williams, 26.Shervohnez Hamilton.

Coach: Dwight Yorke.

Jamaica (4-3-3): 13.Shaquan Davis (GK); 2.Dexter Lembikisa, 6.Richard King, 4.Mason Holgate, 3.Amari’i Bell (captain); 18.Jon Russell, 14.Isaac Hayden, 8.Kasey Palmer (10.Ravel Morrison 70); 9.Kaheim Dixon (22.Greg Leigh 80), 17.Rumarn Burrell (11.Daniel Green 70), 20.Renaldo Cephas.

Unused substitutes: 1.Benjamin Williams (GK), 23.Tafari Chambers (GK), 5.Steven Young, 16.Sue-Lae McCalla, 7.Brandon Cover, 19.Kyle Ming.

Coach: Steve McClaren.

Unity Cup

(27 May 2025)

Jamaica 3 (Kasey Palmer 24 pen, Rumarn Burrell 53, Richard King 90+3), Trinidad and Tobago 2 (Isaiah Leacock 54, Kevin Molino 69) at London.