Glasgow, Nanton shine as T&T U17s rout St Martin 8-0 to retain mathematical qualifying chance

The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-17 team enjoyed their first comfortable outing of their 2026 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers campaign this evening, as they cruised to an 8-0 win over Sint Maarten at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Six second half goals put the Dutch-speaking islanders to the sword, with substitute Kanye Glasgow contributing a double while fellow subs Finn De Freitas and Jeremai Nanton chipped in a goal apiece.

The final result saw the young Soca Warriors climb to second place in Group A. However, only the group winners advance—and even today’s healthy triumph still saw coach Randolph Boyce’s boys trail Mexico by six items, in the goal differential tally.

“El Tricolor” closed the double header with a 4-1 win over a plucky Barbados team at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, which took the North American powerhouse to a nine goal advantage over the Warriors.

It means the Trinidad and Tobago players must defeat Mexico by five clear goals on Thursday to advance to the Concacaf U-17 Championship and keep their Qatar 2026 Fifa World Youth Cup dreams alive.

The daunting equation facing the young Warriors is the hangover from their opening 1-0 loss to Barbados last week.

In theory, Trinidad and Tobago can still advance. But, surely, only in theory.

Still, this afternoon’s outing offered a reprieve for the players and their supporters after a frayed week.

Sint Maarten conceded 20 goals in three games before today, with a solitary item scored against Barbados. They were the perfect tonic then for the goal-shy Trinidad and Tobago team.

And, in truth, Trinidad and Tobago’s first two goals owed plenty to the generosity of their inept visitors.

In the 13^th minute, Sint Maarten full back Christopher Freeman—in an effort to avoid using his left foot—brought his right foot into contact with the ball at an awkward angle, and presented Trinidad and Tobago attacker J’meke Watkins with an inch perfect through-ball.

Watkins rounded opposing goalkeeper Sudesh Singh to open the scoring.

Five minutes before the interval, midfielder Christian Pitt doubled Trinidad and Tobago’s lead as he beat forward Adasa Richardson to a loose ball to tap home from close range, after Singh clumsily parried an Antuan Louison shot.

Boyce made three changes at halftime, as De Freitas, Nanton and Glasgow replaced Pitt, Watkins and Jasai Theophilus respectively.

In the 52^nd minute, Glasgow stripped Freeman of the ball and sprinted clear to score Trinidad and Tobago’s first goal of the second half—and third item of the match. And the hosts never looked back after that.

Left back Sebastian James teed up midfielder Donovan Drayton Jr for a side-footed finish in the 55^th minute. Nanton hit the far post with an audacious attempt in the 62^nd minute, before, seconds later, De Freitas was kept out by a fine reflex save by Singh.

However, Glasgow got Trinidad and Tobago’s fifth goal in the 66^th minute, after a fine cross-field ball from Nanton.

Nanton got another assist in the 80^th minute, as he outfoxed opposing left back Quile Adolphin before crossing for a simple tap-in by Richardson.

The Warriors’ seventh goal, converted by De Freitas, was a goalkeeping error by substitute Solanio Cornet, who replaced Singh in the 70^th minute.

Cornet could do nothing about Trinidad and Tobago’s final item, which was a rocket from outside the box by Nanton, following a right-side Richardson cross.

It was an outing to savour for the young men, in front of their friends and family.

On Thursday, it will be an entirely different sort of challenge against Mexico. The kind from which legends can emerge.

The odds are not on Trinidad and Tobago’s side—but at least they have some momentum now.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 21.Levi Williams (GK); 6.Jeremiah Daniel (captain), 16.Kenai Richardson (13.Adriel Faure 86), 4.Antonio Hills, 3.Sebastian James (12.Daniel Lewis 77); 15.Christian Pitt (10.Finn De Freitas 46), 19.Antuan Louison, 8.Donovan Drayton Jr; 9.J’meke Watkins (17.Jeremai Nanton 46), 7.Jasai Theophilus (14.Kanye Glasgow 46), 11.Adasa Richardson.

Unused substitutes: 1.Mikhail Clement (GK), 18.Necose Moore (GK), 2.Reagan Rowe, 5.Jaylon Roberts.

Coach: Randolph Boyce.

Sint Maarten (4-1-4-1): 18.Sudesh Singh (GK) (1.Solanio Cornet GK 70); 13.Christopher Freeman (17.Joseph Johnson 86), 14.Jahier Marlin, 3.Rainier Merien (captain), 5.Quile Adolphin; 8.Raynicio Drenthe; 19.Ervinio Kleberg (11.Shervin Valerie 59), 10.Sean-Jay Cecilia (16.Henry Jack 59), 4.Daan Van Ottele, 2.Kaden Magloire (20.Ruiz Tadimoeljo 86); 9.Jamaly Fontenelle.

Unused substitutes: 21.Aiden James (GK), 6.Jaymi Brooks, 7.Cemali George, 12.Kadien Soleana, 15.Deion Pantophlet.

Coach: Gene Kemble.

Referee: Adrian Lage (Cuba).

Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers

(Monday 9 February)

Trinidad and Tobago 8 (J’meke Watkins 13, Christian Pitt 40, Kanye Glasgow 52, 66, Donovan Drayton Jr 55, Adasa Richardson 80, Finn De Freitas 83, Jeremai Nanton 90), Sint Maarten 0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Mexico 4 (Uziel Vargas 3, Noe Mota 6, Adan Sanchez 7, Luis Trujillo 67), Barbados 1 (Marcelo Avalos OG 47) 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.