T&T go down to Curacao

T&T Fall 1-0 to Curaçao in Willemstad

Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Men’s National Team went down 1-0 to Curaçao in Concacaf Nations League action at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad on Thursday night.

A 58th-minute goal from Juninho Bacuna separated the teams in a contest in which T&T worked hard defensively, battled through the early loss of captain Levi Garcia to injury and finished the match with ten men following the dismissal of Dantaye Gilbert.

Head coach Derek King made a number of changes to his starting team, with Molik Khan, Kobi Henry and Andrew De Gannes coming into the eleven.

Midfielders Daniel Phillips and Wayne Frederick II were unavailable through suspension following their red cards in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to the Dominican Republic in Port of Spain. Phillips will be out for another three matches.

T&T were then forced into another early adjustment when Garcia went down with hamstring injury in the 13th minute. Reon Moore was introduced in his place. De Gannes also went off with a groin problem.

Curaçao started brightly and looked to use their pace in the wide areas. Kenji Gorré broke down the left before delivering a ball into the penalty area for Juninho Bacuna, whose powerful effort was gathered by goalkeeper Denzil Smith who would go onto pull off several saves including penalty.

The hosts continued to apply pressure, but T&T remained organised and disciplined without the ball while looking for opportunities to break forward.

One of T&T’s better openings in the first half arrived in the 32nd minute when Dantaye Gilbert attacked a corner from the left but was unable to direct his effort on target. Before going off, Garcia also sent an effort over bar following a surge towards the penalty area.

Curaçao threatened again just before half-time when Tahith Chong and Shurandy Sambo combined inside the T&T penalty area, but Smith was alert to gather Sambo’s attempt as the teams went into the interval level at 0-0.

Te hosts continued to push after the restart.
In the 57th minute, Chong reached the byline and picked out Bacuna, whose left-footed strike was pushed wide by an excellent save from Smith.

A minute later, however, Curaçao found the breakthrough.Chong delivered a long diagonal pass into the path of Bacuna, who stretched to steer the ball beyond the advancing Smith and give the home side a 1-0 advantage.
Curaçao came close to adding a second in the 67th minute when Chong raced onto a through ball before sending his curling effort just past the upright.

T&T’s task became more difficult three minutes later when Gilbert received a second yellow card following a challenge on Chong, reducing the visitors to ten men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, T&T continued to compete and produced one of their best attacking moments when Luke Phillip drove forward into the Curaçao penalty area and unleashed a powerful effort which struck the frame of the goal.

Smith was again called into action late in the contest after Curaçao were awarded a penalty following a challenge on Chong inside the area.

The goalkeeper produced another strong save, diving to keep out Leandro Bacuna’s spot kick and maintain the one-goal deficit.

T&T pushed through the closing stages in search of an equaliser but were unable to find the breakthrough before the final whistle.

The result leaves Curaçao on nine points from three matches at the top of the group, while Trinidad and Tobago remain without a point after three outings.The two teams will meet again on Sunday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, with kick-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

T&T

22 Denzil Smith, 3 Kobi Henry, 4 Jaheim Joseph, 6 Andrew De Gannes, 7 Ryan Telfer, 10 Molik Khan, 11 Levi Garcia, 15 Dantaye Gilbert, 16 Michel Poon Angeron, 19 Rio Cardines, 20 Real Gill

Subs

1 Jabari Brice, 21 Jaheim Wickham, 5 Neveal Hackshaw, 8 Luke Phillip, 9 Daniel David, 12 Shervohnez Hamilton, 13 Reon Moore, 17 Justin Garcia, 18 Andre Rampersad, 23 Noah Powder

Curacao

1 Eloy Room (gk), 2 Shurandy Sambo, 3 Jurien Gaari, 5 Sherel Floranus, 7 Juninho Bacuna, 8 Livano Comenencia, 9 Jurgen Locadia, 10 Leandro Bacuna, 14 Kenji Gorre, 18 Amando Obispo, 21 Tahith Chong

Subs

22 Tyrick Bodak (gk), 23 Kiyani Zeggen (gk), 4 Jurich Carolina, 6 Nicky Souren, 11 Jeremy Antonisse, 12 Kyano Penso, 15 Arjany Martha, 16 Jearl Magaritha, 17 Tyrese Noslin, 20 Joshua Brenet