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The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-17 Team suffered a heavy defeat in their first international outing today, as they fell 6-0 away to Peru in a friendly contest.
Peru have not won a single game at the South America Under-17 Championship in seven years, while it is 19 years since they qualified for a Fifa Under-17 World Cup.
However, the South Americans were in a different class to Trinidad and Tobago coach Randolph’s Boyce squad.
(via TTFA Media.)
For the first five minutes, the young Soca Warriors did not complete a single pass and barely touched the ball—as the Peruvians rotated possession from side to side, with their guests running about aimlessly.
In the seventh minute, Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Finn De Freitas won the ball near the half line and released attacker J’meke Watkins, who advanced into the opposing penalty area before forcing a successful sliding challenge from Peru defender Carlos Altez.
It might have been the only time that Boyce’s troops looked remotely threatening in the opposing box for the first half.
(via TTFA Media.)
Captain Robinho Ormeño opened the scoring for Peru in the 20th minute, after being left unmarked from an inswinging Sebastian Ortega corner kick.
The Latin American team got three more goals from set pieces in 35th, 44th, and 88th minutes from forward Carlos Alvarado, defender Angel Villalta and a substitute respectively—the last was a direct free kick that surprised substitute goalkeeper Levi Williams at his near post.
Sandwiched between those items was an Eystin Cordova finish from the edge of the area in the 39th minute, after an exchange by midfielder Sandro Cometivos and Alvarado, and an Ortega goal off a counter-attack in the 40th minute following a Cometivos pass.
(via TTFA Media.)
Alvarado also had a header deflected against the Trinidad and Tobago bar, following an improvised save by goalkeeper and captain Mikhail Clement in the 24th minute.
Trinidad and Tobago, for much of the first half, could neither stop nor slow the advances of the Peruvian team and had to settle for trying to prevent free shots on goal, which they generally managed from open play at least.
Things improved slightly after the break. Both teams made multiple changes and Peru did not have the same quality and confidence in their line-breaking passes and cross-field switches.
(via TTFA Media.)
In contrast, substitute forward Adasa Richardson offered improved hold-up play for the young Warriors which allowed attackers like Christian Pitt and Jeremai Nanton to receive possession in more dangerous areas of the field.
Richardson registered a shot on goal himself in the 51st minute and teed up one for Pitt, a Toronto FC Academy playmaker, in the 53rd minute. But they only prompted regulation saves from Peru goalkeeper Matteo Tassara.
Incidentally, Watkins, who started at centre forward for the Warriors, plays as an inverted winger for Signal Hill Secondary. So, although he does pose a threat on the break with his athleticism, it is unsurprising that he struggled to perform the duties of a target man at this level.
Watkins made his international youth debut against Peru today.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
There were few bright signs today for the young Trinidad and Tobago players, who were comprehensively outplayed. However, a high quality friendly international like this would have left Boyce and his troops with little doubt about where they need to improve.
On Friday, coach and players would have another shot at Peru, before the return home for the Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers.
Trinidad and Tobago are grouped with Mexico, Barbados, Saint Martin, and Sint Maarten for the competition, which kicks off on Tuesday 3 February.
Photo: TTFA Media.
(Team)
Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 (4-2-3-1): 1.Mikhail Clement (GK) (captain) (21.Levi Williams GK 46); 12.Jelani Stoute (2.Reagan Rowe 42), 16.Kenai Richardson (16.Adriel Faure 46), 4.Antonio Hills (5.Jaylon Roberts 46), 20.Akel Vesprey (3.Sebastian James 46); 13.Daniel Lewis (6.Jeremiah Daniel 46), 19.Antuan Louison (8.Donovan Drayton Jr 46); 14.Nadeem Grant (17.Jeremai Nanton 46), 10.Finn De Freitas (15.Christian Pitt 46), 7.Jasai Theophilus (14.Jaylon Forbes 46); 9.J’meke Watkins (11.Adasa Richardson 46).
Unused substitutes: 18.Necose Moore (GK), 22.Kanye Glasgow.
Coach: Randolph Boyce.
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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.
