T&T through to Gold Cup
T&T through to Gold Cup
Trinidad and Tobago are through to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup after defeating Cuba 4-0 in the second leg of the Gold Cup prelims on Tuesday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium. T&T won the first leg 2-1 in Santiago last Friday.
Two goals in the first half from forward Isaiah Lee and one each from skipper Kevin Molino and substitute Nathaniel James in the second half shut Cuba out and propelled T&T to an inspiring victory in front of just over 6,000 cheering home fans at the Couva venue.
The hosts were dominant from the get-go, and with Cuba midfielder Romario Torres red-carded for a two-footed tackle on Andre Rampersad in the second minute, T&T capitalised on their player-advantage to seal a coveted Gold Cup spot.
Soon after the first whistle and Torres’ exit, T&T applied pressure from both wings as Tyrese Spicer and Isaiah Garcia served as ample providers.
A low free kick from Joevin Jones in the tenth minute had Cuban defender Daniel Morejon miscue his clearance and saw the ball go just wide of the post.
Some fancy footwork from an aggressive Spicer played Molino on but the T&T skipper hit over bar. Spicer threatened all night. A cross from Isaiah Garcia found the head of a charging Molino who hit into the ground, but the ball bounced overbar.
Twenty minutes in, defender Alvin Jones rifled his favoured long-range effort but Cuban goalie Raiko Arozarena parried the ball into Spicer’s path, who hit it hard, but onto the crossbar.
T&T eventually got on the scoresheet in the 21st after another defence-breaking run by Spicer, who crossed low into the box for Lee to fire past Azozarena.
Cuba’s lone chance in the first half came from forward Alessio Raballo, who had his glaring header go wide. Raballo was bossed for most of the match by TT defenders Jones, Darnell Hosepdales and Josiah Trimmingham.
In the 37th, a loose back pass from Yosel Piedra was pounced on by Lee who sent TT 2-0 up with an easy goal.
So it remained at the half-time break.
Yorke replaced veteran Jones at the resumption and introduced goal threat Real Gill. T&T’s persistence in front goal never stopped as Spicer executed quick-feet once more to set up Molino. Flawlessly, he fired home to send T&T 3-0 up.
Gill’s addition breathed new life into TT’s frontline and he, Molino and Lee kept the pressure on. Kaihim Thomas and Nathaniel James also replaced Isaiah Garcia and goalscorer Lee.
Molino and Gill combined again with Gill hitting straight to Aronzarena. Midfielder Daniel Phillips also had promising, surging runs which increased T&T’s opportunities in front goal. Phillips also fired a long-range effort which was parried out.
Frustration showed from the Cubans as the T&T backline stood firm and goalkeeper Denzil Smith was hardly used. Molino was then replaced by Ajani Fortune.
And in the 84th, T&T affirmed victory as Gill placed a picture-perfect through-ball to James, who hit it hard, low and fast to seal a 4-0 triumph in front over 6,241 fans.
