Chaves saves the Day
Chaves Saves the Day
Trinidad and Tobago’s Men’s under-20 football team got a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in their opening match of the Concacaf Under-20 championship qualifiers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Friday night. Second half sub Michael Chaves of Fatima College and QPCC, stole the three points for T&T with a winner in the fifth and final minute of added on time.
T&T had an alamring start to the encounter, after they conceded a third-minute penalty which was scored by Kirtney Franklyn, after a late challenge in the area by goalkeeper Ailan Panton. The hosts went down 2-0 in the 28th minute, when Steven Pierre quieted the TT crowd with a glancing header at the first post from a left-side corner.
T&T plotted their way back into the contest from the 36th minute when their big central defender and captain, Cody Cooper, banged in a left-footed shot after SVG failed to deal with a Rio Cardines corner.
The home supporters grew increasingly frustrated with T&T’s inconsistent play and passing, but the Brian Haynes-coached unit never dropped their heads and kept going at the opposition. Tey eventuallt grabbed an equaliser in the 64th minute when former San Juan North Secondary standout Larry Noel applied a cool close-range finish after getting a through pass outside the area.
The game seemed to be heading for a draw as some spectators made their exit, but Chaves saved the day for the hosts with the drop of the shoulder and a smooth left-footed finish in the dying moments of the game to send the near 45000 crowd into pandemonium.
T&T left Mucurapo with precious points, but owing to Canada’s 8-0 thumping of Dominica in the earlier group D encounter, the hosts find themselves second in the group on goal differential.
Only the group winner will advance to the Concacaf under-20 championship later this year.
On Sunday, T&T will go after their second win when they play Dominica at the Mucurapo venue from 7 pm. SVG will play Canada in Sunday’s first encounter from 4 pm.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago: 1.Ailan Panton (GK); 5.Lyshaun Morris, 4.Cody Cooper (captain), 3.Russel Francois, 2.Duhrell Young; 6.Levi Jones (15.Josiah Ochoa 52′); 8.Abayomi George (12.Jeremiah Cateau 69), 10.Lindell Sween (13.Michael Chaves 45′), 11.Derrel Garcia (19.Malachi Webb 69′); 9.Larry Noel (14.Tyrell Moore 69′), 7.Rio Cardines,
Unused substitutes: 18.Bryan Gafiuk (GK), 21.Makaya Taylor (GK), 16.Akil Henry, 17.Jaden Williams, 20.J’lon Matthews.
Head Coach: Brian Haynes
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines : 1.Tristan John (GK); 19.Dimitri Thomas, 2.Tyrique Stephens, 3.Lerence Benjamin, 4.Joenaldo Payne; 5.Sebastian Alexander, 18.Mackellie Ferdinand (8.Juemar Luke 72′); 17.Frankroy Cain (16.Aj Delpeshe 59′); 9.Isiah Charles, 10.Kirtney Franklyn (captain) (6.Logan Cozier 63′), 11.Steven Pierre.
Unused substitutes: 20.Devon Morgan (GK), 21.Jermaine Jarvis (GK), 7.J’quan Glasgow, 12.Lazaro Lynch, 13.Kentre Gordan, 14.Amaro Charles, 15.Emroy Edwards.
Head Coach: Wade Jackson
Referee: Ignacio Fuentes (Guatemala
