Under-23s hand Martinique Gold Cup setback

Former Caribbean champions Martinique suffered a blow to their CONCACAF Gold Cup preparations Tuesday night when they were beaten 3-0 by Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-23 squad in a practice match at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Second half strikes from Lyndon Diaz, Andre Toussaint, and Kendell Davis pushed the TT youngsters to the win and left the French-speaking Caribbean side under pressure to fine-tune their game three weeks ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Diaz opened the scoring in the 76th minute before Toussaint, last year’s Professional Football League (PFL) “Player of the Year”, and Davis, clinched the good win with a quick double strike just before the end. Toussaint scored in the 90th and Davis in stoppage time for the home team, preparing for their opening 2004 Olympic qualifying matches against Bahamas in September. Martinique, the 1993 Caribbean Cup champions, were unlucky midway in the second half as back-to-back attempts by Jose Goron and Roberto Cinna were denied by the woodwork. Martinique are preparing to contest Group “C” of the July 12-27 Gold Cup with the United States and El Salvador. Other Caribbean teams in the Gold Cup are, Jamaica who will play Guatemala and Colombia in Group “B”, and Cuba, who tackle Canada and Costa Rica in Group “D”.

Teams:
 Martinique - Jean Francis Go, Ludovic Mirande, Judes Vaton, Jean Victor
Lavril, Willy Padoly, Roberto Cinna (Earlston Edmee-82nd), Steeve Riskwait
(Jean Michel Michaud-46th) Miguel Duragrin, Jose Goron (David Bastel-81st)
Gael Germany, Yann Girier  Dufournier (William Anin-61st).
 T&T - Jan Micheal Williams, Kenwyne Jones (Corey Rivers-69th) Lyndon Diaz,
Ronald Primus, Michael Celestine (Kevon Clement-46th), Nigel Daniel (Hollis
Brown-67th), Josh Johnson, Silvio Spann, Kendall Davis, Kerry Baptiste
(Devon Mitchell-61st), Conrod Smith (Andre Toussaint-54th).