T&T go for fourth win
T&T go for fourth win
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Angus Eve has commended the “One Team” approach by his players during the spectacular come-from-behind League “A” Group”A” victory over Guatemala in the 2023-2024 Concacaf Nations League, on Friday night.
Guatemala built an early two-goal lead through Rubio Méndez (12th minute) and Oscar Santis (31st), before T&T rallied through Alvin Jones’ penalty (36th), Reon Moore’s close-up equaliser (54th) for 2-2, and an 89th-minute free kick taken by teenager Nathaniel James.
“Give yourselves a clap. Discipline and attitude and teamwork took us through the game,” Eve told his players in the Hasely Crawford stadium dressing room following the crucial victory .
The victory over Guatemala left Trinidad and Tobago atop a very competitive Group “A”, with nine points, and looking practically qualified for the quarter-final round. Tonight, T&T meet Curacao from 9pm at the Ergilio Hato stadium in Willemstad, Curaçao, knowing that a point will make absolutely sure of passage to the quarter-finals. Nathaniel James is out on a two-yellow card suspension.
Panama can still reach 10 points with a home victory over Guatemala, while Martinique can join T&T on nine points, providing they circumvent the difficulty of winning in El Salvador, and even then goal difference could still play a fundamental role.
Eve is hoping for another disciplined performance from T&T against talented Curacao, a team laden with Dutch players that had the better of play despite T&T winning 1-0 in Port of Spain last month.
Eve used Christopher Biggette as an example when preaching his “one team” philosophy.
Biggette served as starting keeper for several years at struggling St Ann’s Rangers—perennial bottom dweller in the former TT Pro League—when owned by deceased football lover Richard Fakoory, before it was taken over by Richard Ferguson and became the formidable Terminix La Horquetta Rangers. For the last two seasons, Biggette has been starting keeper at Defence Force, the 2023 TT Premier Football League (PFL) champions.
On Friday, Biggette made his national team debut as a second half substitute. Starting keeper Denzil “Peng” Smith, another recent national team debutant who played with both W Connection and Club Sando this season, had gone into the Guatemala match with an injured finger. He gave his all, but could not finish the game and came off in the 79th minute, giving Biggette his national team debut. With the game balanced 2-2 and both teams pressing for a lead, Biggette was forced into constant action for the final 21 minutes–10 injury-time minutes included.
When Jose Ardo sent a looping header towards the far corner, it looked certain to sneak in until Biggette sprang into action, tipping the ball over and even getting a congratulatory pat from Rubio Mendez, the USA-based Real Salt Lake striker who had scored a controversial opening goal. The importance of that save was not lost on Eve.
“Give ‘Peng’ a hand for meh,” said Eve. Amidst rapturous applause, the T&T head coach added: “But guess what? Guess what? It had somebody was better than him. Yuh know why? To come on, and play yuh first game, and do that.”
Eve used a couple colourful words for emphasis — nothing unfamiliar in a men’s sports team dressing room. At that point, Biggette was mobbed by his teammates. Smith was among them.
“Because we is a team and all the men on the bench was keeping themselves focused and supporting the team, he (Biggette) could have come on and do that,” said Eve, who also lauded the work of subs Kaile Auvray, Reon Moore, Nathaniel James and Duane Muckette. (Taken from Newsday)
