Boyce’s Warriors get off the mark, as T&T U-17s edge Saint Martin 1-0

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-17 Team head coach Randolph Boyce savoured his first international win tonight, on the fourth attempt, as the young Soca Warriors edged Saint Martin 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium to secure their first points of the 2026 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers campaign.

Forward Adasa Richardson got the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 74^th minute, after Saint Martin left back Angelo Fleming gifted the hosts a spot kick with a clumsy handled ball in the area.

Trinidad and Tobago are still fourth from the five teams in Group A, as they trail Mexico, Saint Martin and Barbados by goal difference. And the hosts have a bye on Saturday, when group action continues with Sint Maarten tackling Barbados while Mexico face Saint Martin.

This afternoon, Mexico routed table proppers Sint Maarten 10-0 in the North American nation’s first outing in this competition.

On Monday 9 February, Barbados meet Mexico with Trinidad and Tobago paired with Sint Maarten. Another win for Boyce’s troops and they could climb to second—should Mexico inflict heavy defeats on Saint Martin and Barbados respectively.

It is likely then that Trinidad and Tobago would still have a mathematical chance of qualifying for the Qatar 2026 Fifa Under-17 World Cup when they play Mexico next Thursday.

It is about as much consolation as this team can hope for at this stage.

Tonight, Trinidad and Tobago again laboured against a decidedly mediocre opponent. And it is worth noting that Boyce’s boys are yet to score a goal from open play after four matches.

However, Saint Martin, who basically played the entire second half with 10 men after introducing heavily bandaged, immobile forward Souleymane Aubriet at the interval, never really looked like scoring either.

Trinidad and Tobago looked more solid at the back—aided by giant goalkeeper Levi Williams’ command of the penalty box, as well as competent one-on-one defending by their back four and defensive midfielder Antuan Louison.

Saint Martin completed 313 passes, which does not suggest that the young Warriors stifled their guests by any means. But at least it was generally a worry-free outing on the defensive for Boyce, whose maiden clean sheet was deserved.

On the ball, Trinidad and Tobago continue to go from short passing at the back to long punts upfield—and little in between, by the way of line-breaking passes in their two ‘10s’.

The hosts completed 411 passes, which was four more than they did against Barbados on Tuesday. But their spells of passing seemed to have little to do with starting incisive attacks, as they were often followed by long balls aimed at marked attackers.

Still, Trinidad and Tobago did enough to secure the three points—long before Richardson’s intervention.

Saint Martin goalkeeper Lendsey Benjamin used his feet to deny Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Christian Pitt, after just five minutes. And, seconds later, left back Sebastian James rapped the bar with an inswinging corner kick.

James, incidentally, was one of five changes to the starting team, with Williams, Louison, defender Kenai Richardson, and attacker J’meke Watkins also getting their first competitive starts of the campaign.

Flanker Jeremai Nanton conjured up an even better scoring opportunity for Richardson in the 17^th minute, as he danced past two opposing defenders to tee up the forward in the six-yard box.

But Richardson could not squeeze his shot past Benjamin.

In the 41^st minute, Richardson was wasteful again. On that occasion, he was wide at the near post off a James cross.

And Boyce must have been wondering if the goal would ever come.

Trinidad and Tobago could not be described as a slick passing team, nor did they offer much entertainment value in possession. However, they were creating chances at the right end and protecting Williams in their own goal.

Boyce could at least be pleased with that.

Playmaker Finn De Freitas was an 80^th minute substitute against Barbados. Tonight, he was introduced 25 minutes earlier.

De Freitas was not regularly involved. But he did play his part in fashioning two opportunities.

First, he released captain Jeremiah Daniel in the 56^th minute and Daniel, used in a more familiar role at right back due to injury to Reagan Rowe, crossed for Richardson—only for the forward to head wide.

Then, in the 67^th minute, De Freitas teed up Watkins who fired wide of the target.

As another barren evening beckoned, Fleming inadvertently saved the day for Trinidad and Tobago.

Fleming had a nightmarish first half, constantly exposed by Nanton on the flank. However, Boyce replaced Nanton with Jasai Theophilus at the half and the Warriors never targeted the hapless Saint Martin left back after the interval.

Still, Fleming found a way to hand Trinidad and Tobago a lifeline, with an awkward use of his arm off a cross from the other flank. And, finally, Richardson took his chance with a clinical penalty kick.

Trinidad and Tobago should have stretched their advantage, in the 83^rd minute, as Richardson sent substitute Kanye Glasgow clear in the opposing area, only for Benjamin to produce another vital save.

So, 1-0 would have to do. Three points and a clean sheet for Boyce’s young Warriors.

They would seek to build on that next Monday.

Less than 500 supporters turned out to cheer on the young national players tonight. They would hope for some razzmatazz against Sint Maarten, before they close off their group assignments against Mexico on Thursday 12 February.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 21.Levi Williams (GK); 6.Jeremiah Daniel (captain), 16.Kenai Richardson, 5.Jaylon Roberts (4.Antonio Hills 80), 3.Sebastian James; 15.Christian Pitt (10.Finn De Freitas 55), 19.Antuan Louison, 20.Akel Vesprey (8.Donovan Drayton Jr 73); 17.Jeremai Nanton (7.Jasai Theophilus 46), 11.Adasa Richardson, 9.J’meke Watkins (14.Kanye Glasgow 73).

Unused substitutes: 1.Mikhail Clement (GK), 18.Necose Moore (GK), 12.Daniel Lewis, 13.Adriel Faure.

Coach: Randolph Boyce.

Saint Martin (4-1-4-1): 1.Lendsey Benjamin (GK); 15.Nathaniel Gregoire (9.Souleymane Aubriet 46), 4.Sidiya Diaby, 5.Thadjany Lewest, 3.Angelo Fleming; 8.Yancey Gonzague; 2.Raphael Gavarin, 10.Zanetty Malebranche (captain) (6.Maxime Gibbes 87), 18.Arda Yildrim, 11.Wilfried Plumain (19.Damanii Browne 58); 7.Matthieu Mendy (12.Romain Sutherland 58).

Unused substitutes: 16.Anthony Emile (GK), 13.Medhi Mingau, 14.Noah Bertaux, 17.Batiste Rodriguez, 20.Gilles Enzo.

Coach: Marcena Jasaron.

Referee: Kareem Benjamin (Saint Kitts and Nevis).

Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers

(5 February 2026)

Trinidad and Tobago 1 (Adasa Richardson 75 pen), Saint Martin 0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Mexico 10 (Adan Sanchez 3, 7, 13, Carlos Calvillo 58, Alberto Cisneros 67 pen, 70 pen, 83, Luis Trujillo 85, 89, Ricardo Gonzales 90), Sint Maarten 0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

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Lasana Liburd

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.