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The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team completed a mini-exhibition tournament last night, with a 1-1 draw against the Grenada National Under-20 Team at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
The tie followed emphatic wins over the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines U-20s (6-0) and a youthful AC Port of Spain XI (5-0) on Monday and Wednesday night respectively.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Coach Marvin Gordon noted that his troops were not at full strength while there might have been a touch of complacency in their ranks too.
Team captain Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia flew to Indiana, United States for a trial with a USL team on Thursday, while a host of players—Phillip Nelson, Adam Pierre, Nikosi Foncette, Sylvon Theophilus and Deisean Plaza—were said to be ill with the virus.
“I think my players took Grenada for granted, whereas I told them not to take anyone for granted,” Gordon told Wired868. “[…] I also felt we didn’t move the ball as well as we should. But then it was our last practice game and, as a coach, you are trying to give everyone minutes—as you are trying to be fair to everyone.
Photo: TTFA Media.
“What was still good is we held our composure to the end, and we ended the week without losing a game.”
It was a rambunctious affair, with the visiting team lacking nothing in spirit and steel.
Giovanni Hospedales opened the scoring in the 11th minute, with a tap-in from close range after Grenada goalkeeper Peter Alexander spilled a cross from midfielder Josiah Ochoa.
The finish was Hospedales third in as many matches, after a goal apiece against the “Vincey Heat” and AC Port of Spain. However, Grenada did not crumble and eventually fashioned an equaliser with a rare attack.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Right back Terryique Francis launched a long freekick into the Trinidad and Tobago penalty and, as the hosts failed to clear, flanker Raheem Raeburn took full advantage, with a pinpoint volley on the turn to equalise for the “Spice Islanders” in the 62nd minute.
Midfielder Caden Trestrail nearly restored Trinidad and Tobago’s lead with a cracking freekick from close to 40 yards that slammed against the bar. But Grenada held on for the result.
In the end, Gordon could be relieved to have all his players walk off the field, following a succession of heavy tackles—with flanker Jaydon Caprietta being a regular target.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Exuberant tackles apart, Grenada played with energy and purpose, as coach Jerry Alexis’ boys took great pride in closing down Trinidad and Tobago attackers as quickly as possible.
The young Warriors had the better of the game, but, to the visitors’ credit, it was never a shooting gallery for the hosts.
“I thought Grenada, after watching us play our first two games, their coach assessed us,” said Gordon, “and came with a defensive plan to sit in a mid to, low block and try to be as aggressive and physical as possible in every situation.”
Photo: TTFA Media.
Gordon vowed to give playing time to United States-born defender Jeremy Meloney and Jamaica-based forward Kaieem Lewis, and was true to his word.
Melony, who is left-footed, played the entire 90 minutes and looked to be one of the best distributors of the ball in Gordon’s backline.
Lewis, a former Bishop’s High School student, did little on the ball to distinguish himself from the other forwards in Gordon’s queue, namely Phillip Nelson and Giovanni Hospedales.
However, Lewis’ movement off the ball—as he constantly slipped on the blindside of Grenada defenders and pointed into the channels for passes, which rarely came—suggested that the Jamaica-based schoolboy does indeed have something to offer.
“Meloney was here with us in December, so I know his ability,” said Gordon. “[…] I thought from what I saw in December and what I saw last night his game was a little off, but I know the quality of the player. Last night I thought he wasn’t at his best.
“[…] Kaieem seems to be a decent number nine. We will see how it goes once he is here again.”
In midweek, Gordon suggested that he already had a good idea of the players in his final squad, barring something special. However, he stressed today that the door is not closed and there are still opportunities for any player to force his way on to the tournament roster.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
He made it clear that midfielder Tau Lamsee could also earn his ticket to Costa Rica, despite expressing reservations about the former QRC and Pro Series playmaker’s defensive application in midweek.
The National Under-20 team resume training on Monday, after being granted the weekend off.
“Some of the guys who were not with us for this tournament, we asked them to rejoin,” said Gordon, who wants to retain a core of 32 players in practice. “We want everyone—including Tau. If he can get fit enough then [he can break into the final team], his name is on the provisional list as well.
Photo: TTFA Media.
“The door is not closed to anybody. You have to work hard for what you want. We don’t want anyone to feel comfortable and to feel they have made it already.”
Yesterday, Josiah Ochoa played closer to Trestrail in central midfield, while left back Chaz Williams continued to offer a passing option in the build-up phase by tucking into a deep-lying midfield role, rather than pushing high up the flank as Caprietta did against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
It meant the young Warriors, in a 3-3-1-3 shape during the start of play, controlled the ball a bit better in the defensive third of the field—with between six and seven players in central areas to help them advance.
Photo: TTFA Media.
On the flip side, Caprietta’s overlaps in their first friendly allowed Garcia to drift inside, to devastating effect. So, if Gordon inverts a full back to overload his midfield, it could potentially mean a more peripheral role for Zoom Zoom, who would be required to hug the touchline to offer width.
This would be one of the tactical conundrums that Gordon and his coaching staff will consider over the next month. Trinidad and Tobago’s first Fifa U-20 World Cup qualifier is against Bermuda on 24 February.
He hopes his players learn from their draw against Grenada last night.
Photo: TTFA Media.
“Football is played on the day,” said Gordon. “There will be teams who will come and say: ‘we don’t have the quality of Trinidad, so let’s sit in a low block and be aggressive’.
“We have to learn to deal with that and the boys have to understand that. Barbados can come and do that. Bermuda can come and do that.
“So, we need to find a way to maths out the problem.”
He assured Trinidad and Tobago football fans that he and his players will be working hard to bring glory to the two-island republic.
Photo: TTFA Media.
“We will continue to work every day to try and get the best result as a group,” said Gordon. “We want to thank the people who came out and gave us that support, and we hope to get more support as we go forward.
“We will try to put our best foot forward every day, as we push to our goal of qualifying for the World Cup tournament.”
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 team (4-2-3-1): 21.Jadon Pollard (GK); 17.Lyshaun Morris (2.Talan McMillan 46), 5.Sheridan McNish (3.Jimally Renne 46), 23.Jeremy Meloney, 11.Chaz Williams; 6.Caden Trestrail, 8.Josiah Ochoa (captain) (7.Seth Hadeed 46 [13.Jadon McShine 90]); 14.Jaydon Caprietta, 12.Colin Joseph (10.Dominic Joseph 54), 19.Marcel Valentine; 20.Giovanni Hospedales (9.Kaieem Lewis 46).
Unused substitutes: 1.Jadon-Paul Alexander (GK), 4.Adam Pierre, 15.Nikosi Foncette.
Coach: Marvin Gordon.
Grenada National Under-20 team (4-4-1-1): 12.Peter Alexander (GK); 5.Terryique Francis, 17.Narshon Sylvester (captain), 2.Ashonde Murray, 15.Adon Daniel; 13.Jaden Jones (16.Orion Peters 69), 20.Ejay George, 11.Kimone Williams (6.Zidane Rennie 78), 10.Raheem Raeburn; 8.Taneil Morain (4.Garvin Augustine 87); 9.Jayquan Passee.
Unused substitutes: 1.Jordan Roberts (GK), 3.Shumari Lawrence, 7.Nathan McIntosh, 14.Kevon McIntyre, 21.Omari George.
Coach: Jerry Alexis.
Referee: Nyron Nikolai.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Under-20 friendly
(Friday 23 January)
Trinidad and Tobago 1 (Giovanni Hospedales 11), Grenada 1 (Raheem Raeburn 62) at Ato Boldon Stadium.
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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.
