T&T Get opening CNL Win over Curacao
T&T Get opening CNL Win over Curacao
Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Men pulled off a much needed victory over Curacao in their opening Concacaf Nations League encounter with Curacao at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday.
An 87th minute goal by substitute Nathaniel James, his first for T&T, turned the match on its head after it seemed to be heading for a share of points. But fellow substitute Andre Raymond delivered from the left flank and James fired home from eight yards. T&T striker Ryan Telfer did well to get the ball to James after battling in the air with a Curacao defender.
Curacao had more possession in the opening five minutes, creating a few half chances but T&T goalkeeper Denzil Smith was not called on to make a save.
Curacao looked more menacing attacking the left side as T&T struggled to come out of their half in the opening 15 minutes as Curacao played a high line.
Against the run of play in the 15th minute, Telfer received a long ball, and dribbled past a defender but lost his footing in the 18-yard box.
Curacao continued to control possession with many of their attacks starting through left winger Kenji Gorre.
In another promising attack, Juninho Bacuna took a shot from just inside the box but it was struck straight to Smith in the 23rd minute.
A corner kick from Telfer in the 32nd minute was headed on target by captain Aubrey David, but the tame header was easily saved by Curacao goalkeeper Trevor Doornbusch.
In the 43rd minute, an overhead kick by T&T’s Malcolm Shaw hit the back of the net but it was disallowed because of a foul as the first half ended goalless.
T&T began the second half with energy. Left wing back Ross Russell Jnr made his way into the box falling to the ground, but no foul was awarded.
In the 55th minute, TT winger Kaile Auvray cut inside on his right foot but his shot missed the target.
A link-up play between Auvray and Russell Jnr led to a corner in the 67th minute and the short corner that followed was headed wide by David.
T&T were more lively in the second half going forward more than Curacao.
In the 74th minute, Telfer won the ball and played a through ball to substitute Reon Moore and with just Doornbusch to beat shot wide from just inside the box. Gorre continued to trouble the TT defense, but his shot from 20 yards was deflected out for a corner.
With time running out, Club Sando star James send the crowd into a frenzy with his goal. T&T held on to win 1-0 with Smith having to come up big with a save to keep Curacao off the scoresheet in 7 minutes of added on time.
POST GAME COMMENTS
“I knew when the coach called me, it was to make an impact on the game. I wanted to be explosive and be an asset to the team. It was a great feeling (to score),” goalscorer James said in the Post-Match presser.
“The ball came (off a downward header from teammate Ryan Telfer).
“Everything just happened in slow motion. (There were) a lot of emotions running through my mind. I’m really proud and thankful for the opportunity,” James said in the post-match interview.
The La Horquetta-born player was pleased that Eve trusted him to help turn things around.
He added, “It was a big confidence boost. The coach showed me in a time like this, although so late in the game, he believed in me, and it showed me that he thinks I can compete at this level. I want to continue doing that and be part of the team and be big in personality.”
Assistant coach Derek King was grateful for the team’s efforts as they shook off a listless first half to get the win.
King said, “We went with our game plan as well. It’s a new team, in the sense that we played with just a few experienced players and we played a team with some new players and a new coach.
“So I think we did well today. We were disciplined. The more the game went on, in the second half the players were really outstanding, and we came out with the three points.”
The five substitutions in the second half – James, Andre Raymond, Duane Muckette, Reon Moore and Kristian Lee-Him – were crucial, King said.
He said T&T’s pool of potential players remains bountiful, and sees a brighter future.
“We saw our midfield line, with the likes of Daniel Phillip, he did well. And the likes of Muckette and Moore coming on as more ball players. So I think we started to handle the ball in the second half and get joy going forward.
“It’s very important for us as a young team – step by step. The main thing was to get a good result at home, but we will build. We are still analysing players who will add to the team. We have a few players who are injured at the moment. Once we get the bunch together and gel, you’d see a different T&T team.”
King also praised James’s performance.
“A young player – we saw him at youth level: he’s knocking on the door for an overseas contract. He’s someone that we really had to nurture as a youth. (By) just introducing him today, he did well, and that will build his confidence going forward.”
Additionally, captain and defender Aubrey David was also in good spirits, but stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum heading into Sunday’s away match against El Salvador.
FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification, he said, is the ultimate target.
“We defended well. I think it’s more or less believing in ourselves. It’s a young team and it’s confidence (that matters) at the end of the day. Once we believe in ourselves and maintain ball possession, we will come out with a result.
“We’ll be analysing the game (Curacao), then we’ll be prepared come Sunday.
“Our main focus is 2026. Within the next year FIFA World Cup qualifiers will start so we have to now groom those young players. What we need is to expose them to international football and get proper games (practice) for them as well.
“It’s now for us to stay focused (and) recover as fast as possible, because it’s going to be a challenging game. It’s been a great job by everyone that played, even the substitutes that came on, who changed the game for us.”
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago : 22.Denzil Smith (GK); 14.Shannon Gomez, 2.Aubrey David (captain), 17.Justin Garcia, 3.Ross Russell Jr (6.Andre Raymond 68); 15.Neveal Hackshaw, 8.Daniel Phillips (10.Duane Muckette 55); 7.Ryan Telfer, 18.Andre Rampersad (23.Kristian Lee Him 83), 20.Kaïlé Auvray (11.Nathaniel James 82); 19.Malcolm Shaw (13.Reon Moore 68).
Unused substitutes: 1.Christopher Biggette (GK), 21.Jabari St Hillaire (GK), 4.Jesse Williams, 5.Kevon Goddard, 9.Brent Sam, 12.Kareem Moses, 16.Michel-Poon Angeron.
Head Coach: Angus Eve
Curaçao : 23.Trevor Doornsbuch (GK); 15.Nathangelo Markelo, 3.Jurien Gaari, 10.Leandro Bacuna (captain), 5.Sherel Floranus; 8.Godfried Roemeratoe (4.Rolieny Bonevacia 70); 20.Kevin Felida, 7.Juninho Bacuna (21.Justin Ogenia 56); 18.Jearl Margaritha, 17.Brandley Kuwas (9.Jafar Arias 70), 14.Kenji Gorre.
Unused substitutes: 1.Nino Fancito (GK), 22.Tyrick Bodak (GK), 6.Nathan Holder, 12.Jaron Vicario, 16.Elson Hooi, 19.Giovanni Troupee.
Coach: Deon Gorré
Referee: Steffon Dewar (Jamaica)
