Concacaf U-17 Men Round up
Concacaf U-17 Men Round up
T&T U-17 Men Miss out in final game
Trinidad and Tobago produced a valiant effort but missed out on 2025 FIFA Under-17 World Cup qualification after going down to hosts Costa Rica 2-0 in their final Concacaf U17 Men’s Qualifiers Group B match at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica, on February 16.
Striker Isaac Badilla broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after 45 minutes, placing Los Ticos in front, just before the half-time break.
Despite T&T’s attempts to claw their way back into the game in the second period, Costa Rica’s Ethan Barley struck a well-placed header off a corner kick in the 87th minute to seal the victory and a first-place finish in the group.
Only group winners qualified for the U17 World Cup. T&T finished second, with seven points.
Also advancing to the November 5-27 World Cup in Qatar were the seven other Concacaf group winners, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, USA, Panama and El Salvador.
During the group phase, T&T drew 1-1 with Guyana, defeated British Virgin Islands 3-1, spanked St Maarten 9-0 and lost to Costa Rica 2-0.
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Levi Williams (GK); 2.Talan McMillan, 20.Sheridan McNish, 4.Adam Pierre, 13.Chaz Williams; 16.Seth Hadeed, 6.Nikosi Foncette (captain) (8.Criston Gomez 85); 9.Phillip Nelson (11.Timothy Valentine 75), 10.Dominic Joseph (12.Caden Trestrail 75), 5.Jaydon Caprietta; 19.Josiah Kallicharan.
Unused substitutes: 18.Necose Moore (GK), 21.Mikhail Clement (GK), 3.Jimally Renne, 7.Jasai Theophilus, 14.Adasa Richardson, 15.Eran McLeod, 17.Quinton John.
Coach: Shawn Cooper
Costa Rica (4-2-3-1): 1.Ian O’ Rourke (GK); 2.Yerlan Sosa (19.Gustavo Villar 90), 3.Thiago Cordero (captain), 17.Brayan Calderon, 14.William Marchena; 8.Adriel Perez, 12.Nick Bennette (15.Carlos Urbina 88); 7.Isaac Badilla, 10.Sebastian Lopez (6.Ernesto Umana 69), 11.Marcus Brown (20.Luis Medina 69); 9.Ethan Barley (16.Kaden Farrier 88).
Unused substitutes: 13.Marshall Alfaro (GK), 18.Jafeth Lopez (GK), 4.Yeudi Hernandez, 5.Adrian Espinoza.
Coach: Randall Row
Referee: Michael Venne (Canada)
COOPER: WE MUST LIFT OUR GAME
Trinidad and Tobago under-17 men’s football team coach Shawn Cooper said his team must lift their standard in their final Concacaf qualifier against Costa Rica on February 16 if they are to have a chance of advancing to the 2025 Fifa Under-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
On February 13, TT’s under-17 team hammered Sint Maarten 9-0 at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica in their group B encounter. The result momentarily took TT to the top of the group with seven points.
Also on February 13, Costa Rica were held to a 2-2 draw by Guyana in a gripping and tense encounter in the second game of a double-header.
That result propelled Costa Rica (seven points) to the top of the group on goal difference, with Guyana (five points) occupying third spot. Costa Rica have a goal difference of +17, with TT’s goal difference standing at +11.
With only the eight group winners in the Concacaf qualifiers advancing to the Under-17 World Cup in November, TT will need a victory to secure a spot at the global event when they meet “Los Ticos” from 9 pm (TT time) at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela on February 16.
Although TT scored nine goals against St Maarten, including five goals in a wild 12-minute span to end the contest, Cooper was far from pleased with the overall performance.
“As I said, any (number) of goals today would not have mattered, it’s the performance of the team that matters. At the end of the day, we have to play Costa Rica and it’s a do-or-die (situation),” Cooper said after the match.
“(Costa Rica) are very dynamic and they’re a very well-oiled team. They look very experienced and well-prepared. It’s going to be a tough game, but we’re up for it.”
St Maarten conceded 19 goals in their first three matches, but TT initially struggled to break them down as they played at a slow pace and also played too many misplaced passes as they tried to breach their rival’s defence.
TT eventually broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, when striker Josiah Kallicharan slammed past goalkeeper Sudesh Singh after defender Adam Pierre penetrated the St Maarten defence with a raking diagonal ball.
“I thought we took too long to settle down and then we didn’t exploit the high line they were playing. We just tried to overplay and complicate the game,” Cooper said.
“I thought we could have assessed the game better on the football field.
“As players, coaches give you a plan, but when you go out on the field you’re the ones who have to dictate what goes on on the field. You play within the system, but the opposition may present a different game plan to what the coach had planned.”
Kallicharan netted a hat-trick by the 73rd minute, to add to his double from the previous game against British Virgin Islands. Seven different players got on the scoreline against St Maarten, with captain Nikosi Foncette putting the finishing touches on an emphatic win with a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage-time.
Now Cooper must ready his charges for what will arguably be the toughest game in their young careers. The longtime Presentation College San Fernando coach wants more from his team.
“Our general game has to improve. We can’t play like this and go up against Costa Rica in the final game. We’ll do what we have to do and see how it plays out.”
Cooper said the maturity of his players is improving and hopes they can implement all they have picked up thus far for their showdown with Costa Rica in Alajuela.
“All in all, I think we have a good grouping and we’re now starting to gel and I hope we can cross the final hurdle.”
T&T HAMMER SINT MAARTEN
Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s under-17 football team moved to seven points in group B of the Concacaf Under-17 World Cup qualifiers when they got a thumping 9-0 win over Sint Maarten at the Estadio Nacional, San Jose, Costa Rica on February 13.
The result momentarily moved TT atop the group, with Caribbean rivals Guyana (four points) and group favourites Costa Rica (six points) meeting after press time on February 13 in a key group B clash.
Playing against a Sint Maarten team that had conceded 19 goals in their first three matches, coach Shawn Cooper’s TT team initially found their opponents’ low block difficult to break down.
However, after TT finally beat a stubborn Sudesh Singh in the Sint Maarten goal through a rasping Josiah Kallicharan hit in the 36th minute, the floodgates opened as seven goals were scored in an emphatic second-half showing.
TT went into the half with a 2-0 lead courtesy a close-range goal from defender Sheridan McNish, who beat Singh after a shot from substitute Caden Trestrail crashed off the post.
Kallicharan, who bagged a brace against the British Virgin Islands on February 9, was in the thick of the action again as he completed a hat-trick to lead his team’s second-half riot.
TT got their third goal only three minutes into the second half, as Kallicharan scored from close range after an excellent run and cross from the right by substitute Criston Gomez.
Gomez was one of three substitutes to score in the second half, and both he and Trestrail put in strong performances as TT stretched their goal difference to +11.
With Singh making a string of saves, TT had to wait for their fourth goal which eventually came in the 73rd minute when Kallicharan tapped in from a few yards out after a run down the left by the tricky Trestrail.
Singh was replaced with Jurre Van De Pas in the 75th minute, and the latter experienced a baptism of fire as Sint Maarten conceded a whopping five goals in the last 12 minutes.
The goal of the game arguably came from defender Adam Pierre in the 85th minute, as the St Benedict’s College student banged a right-footed volley into the net from about 25 yards out to make it 5-0. TT made a mas in the Sint Maarten penalty area thereafter as Timothy Valentine, Gomez, Trestrail and captain Nikosi Foncette all scored as the young Soca Warriors unit finished the game in fine style.
In these Concacaf qualifiers, only the eight group winners will advance to the 2025 Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Qatar. From 9 pm (TT time) on February 16, Cooper’s squad will have their date with destiny when they meet Costa Rica at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela. A victory should guarantee TT a spot in the Under-17 World Cup in November.
Trinidad and Tobago (3-4-1-2): 1.Levi Williams (GK) (18.Necose Moore GK 78); 3.Jimally Renne, 20.Sheridan McNish, 4.Adam Pierre; 2.Talan McMillan, 16.Seth Hadeed (12.Caden Trestrail 27), 6.Nikosi Foncette (captain), 5.Jaydon Caprietta; 10.Dominic Joseph (15.Eran McLeod 78); 9.Phillip Nelson (8.Criston Gomez 46), 19.Josiah Kallicharan (11.Timothy Valentine 74).
Unused substitutes: 21.Mikhail Clement (GK), 7.Jasai Theophilus, 13.Chaz Williams, 14.Adasa Richardson, 17.Quinton John.
Coach: Shawn Cooper
T&T BOUNCE BACK IN SECOND GAME
Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-17 squad will use the next two days to rest and recover ahead of their third Concacaf U17 World Cup qualifier clash against Sint Maarten at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica on February 13.
The young Soca Warriors sit atop the Group B standings on four points after drawing their opening match 1-1 against Guyana on February 7 and defeating the British Virgin Islands (BVI) 3-1, two days later.
The squad has a couple of days to recuperate from their first two matches, which were one day apart.
Head coach Shawn Cooper confirmed there are a couple niggling injuries among his youthful bunch, and they would be using the off-days to not only recover but also better prepare for the Sint Maarten clash.
“We have (three) days to rest now, and we could rest and reflect and see what more changes (we can make),” he said.
“We have a couple nagging injuries, which, in those days, we’re supposed to mend them. We brought ourselves back in the competition with these three points, so we’re very thankful for it.”
Against BVI, TT’s Josiah Kallicharan struck the opening goal with a header in the box in the sixth minute. Teammate Caden Trestrail extended the lead in the 22nd minute after pouncing on a rebound, while Kallicharan doubled his tally five minutes later.
Zeveih Abraham pulled on back for the British Virgin Islands in the 92nd minute.
On the result, Cooper said his troops could have done better but he was still pleased to add three points towards their U17 World Cup qualification campaign.
“We didn’t play as best as we could, but we got the victory and a victory is what was required. We started with a new system today and the boys worked it out pretty okay in the first half. Second half, we went on a bit flat and we made a couple changes and the guys took a little while to settle in. As a matter of fact, I thought they didn’t settle in. We got the victory and are happy about it.”
Goal scorer Trestrail said his teammates took some time to acclimatise to the environment in their opening contest, and were well-adjusted for their second tie.
“In the first match, we had to break the guys, get them accustomed to the field, so we did that. For this match, we came out all guns-blazing to get some goals. We started the first half well, but we dropped off a little bit in the second half, and it was not good enough. I think the next game will be better,” Trestrail said.
TT resume at Sint Maarten on February 13 from 6 pm (TT time) and complete their group phase against hosts Costa Rica on February 16.
After the group phase, only the top teams from each of the eight groups will confirm spots at the U17 World Cup in November in Qatar.
Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s under-17 football team (four points) surged to the top of group B in the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers when they earned a 3-1 victory over the British Virgin Islands at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica on February 9.
With only the group winner advancing to the 2025 Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, coach Shawn Cooper’s team needed a positive result after being held to a 1-1 draw by Guyana on February 7.
TT got the perfect start in the sixth minute, as Josiah Kallicharan headed past goalkeeper Toby Whiteside after Jaydon Caprietta floated in a lovely cross from the left flank. In the 27th minute, Kallicharan doubled TT’s tally when he sent a thumping right-footed shot into the top corner after meeting a low cross from the right flank.
Before the half hour mark, TT were flying as Fatima College standout Caden Trestrail scored via a deflection when he took a shot at goal in a crowded area in the 22nd minute.
Sitting comfortably with a 3-0 lead at the half, Cooper’s charges had a scare in the second half when goalkeeper Levi Williams spilled a right side free kick from substitute Theo Coombs. Luckily for TT and Williams, there wasn’t a repeat of the goal they conceded against Guyana as defender Sheridan McNish spectacularly cleared away from the goal line.
Also in second half action, TT substitute Criston Gomez had a volley well stopped by a sprawling Whiteside.
In second-half stoppage-time, BVI did get on the scoresheet, albeit in controversial fashion.
Again, a set piece delivery caused problems for Williams, but the goalkeeper received a bump from Luca Stuttard as he tried to catch the cross. Zeveih Abraham profited from the collision as he headed into an empty net to grab a consolation goal for the BVI.
The loss was BVI’s first in the group, as they hammered Sint Maarten 4-0 in their first game on February 7.
TT will return to action when they play St Maarten from 6 pm (TT time) on February 13.
Trinidad and Tobago (3-4-1-2): 1.Levi Williams (GK); 3.Jimally Renne (17.Quinton John 78), 20.Sheridan McNish, 4.Adam Pierre; 2.Talan McMillan (7.Jasai Theophilus 78), 16.Seth Hadeed, 6.Nikosi Foncette (captain), 5.Jaydon Caprietta (13.Chaz Williams 65); 12.Caden Trestrail; 9.Phillip Nelson, 19.Josiah Kallicharan (8.Criston Gomez 65).
Unused substitutes: 18.Necose Moore (GK), 21.Mikhail Clement (GK), 10.Dominic Joseph, 11.Timothy Valentine, 14.Adasa Richardson, 15.Eran McLeod.
Coach: Shawn Cooper
British Virgin Islands (4-1-4-1): 1.Toby Whiteside (GK); 16.Christian Vanterpool, 2.Qu’yl Billingy, 19.Dashiell Dickens, 5.Kyle Farrington; 12.Luca Stuttard; 10.Blake Kirk (20.Theo Coombs 46), 17.Sam Sharma, 3.Robert Penman, 7.Latriel Wiliams (captain); 9.Lashawn Gibbs (14.Zeveih Abraham 81).
Unused substitutes: 18.Akeem Paddy (GK), 21.Morris Mark III (GK), 6.Marc Tan, 8.Michael-Anson Findlay, 11.Malik Fenton, 13.Roman Nibbs, 15.D’Andre McSheen.
Coach: Felix Percival
Referee: Christopher Mason (Jamaica)
T&T DRAW WITH GUYANA IN U-17 OPENER
Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-17s resume their Concacaf U17 Men’s Qualifier campaign against the British Virgin Islands (BVI) at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Costa Rica on February 9, from 6 pm (TT time).
The TT squad will be hoping to churn out an improved showing after drawing 1-1 against Guyana in their opening Group B contest on February 7.
Guyanese Joshua Morris put them in front in the 32nd minute with a strike inside the box, successfully converting a corner kick attempt.
Into the second half, City FC’s Philip Nelson tied the encounter in the 54th minute, after firing home from inside the box to complete a neat buildup from the young Soca Warriors.
Their meeting against BVI is expected to be a tougher encounter as they recorded a winning start to the competition by disposing of St Maarten 4-0 on the first match day. Goals came from Sam Sharma, Latriel Williams, and a Luca Stuttard brace.
However, coach Shawn Cooper will be banking on the likes of eight foreign nationals in the team to help keep the match in their favour as the tournament progresses.
In Group B are BVI, Guyana, St Maarten and TT. From eight contesting groups, only the top team in each advance to the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup, scheduled for Qatar from November 5-27.
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Levi Williams (GK); 2.Talan McMillan, 20.Sheridan McNish, 4.Adam Pierre, 13.Chaz Williams; 16.Seth Hadeed, 6.Nikosi Foncette (captain); 7.Jasai Theophilus (14.Adasa Richardson 65), 10.Dominic Joseph (12.Caden Trestrail 65), 5.Jaydon Caprietta (11.Timothy Valentine 88); 9.Phillip Nelson (19.Josiah Kallicharan 75).
Unused substitutes: 18.Necose Moore (GK), 21.Mikhail Clement (GK), 3.Jimally Renne, 8.Criston Gomez, 15.Eran McLeod, 17.Quinton John.
Coach: Shawn Cooper
Guyana (4-4-2): 1.Tejpal Nijjar (GK) (18.Nyall Kendall GK 87); 14.Max Robinson, 5.Tamer Unver, 4.Michael Joseph, 3.Joshua Morris (2.Kemron Pellew 46); 11.Luke Langevine (20.Micaiah De Freitas 60), 6.Mikkel Mills, 8.Shaquan David (captain), 7.Quaency Fraser; 9.Dakari Drakes, 10.Jaden Harris (19.Isaiah Ifill 89).
Unused substitutes: 21.Flavio Larose (GK), 12.Aiden Herd, 13.Onesi Dunn, 15.Kila Newland, 16.Jerimiah Welcome, 17.Reid Ramlochan.
Coach: Marco Bonofiglio.
