TT in CONCACAF W/Cup ‘semis’

FOUR second-half goals gave Trinidad and Tobago a 4-0 victory over Dominican Republic in their second leg CONCACAF World Cup second round qualifier at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella yesterday. The hosts won 6-0 on aggregate and will now advance to the semifinal round, which will feature three groups of four teams that will run from August 18 until November 17. Watched by approximately 5,000 fans, Trinidad and Tobago, from the team that won 2-0 in Santo Domingo on June 13, included striker Jason Scotland for Kerwyn “Hardest” Jemmott, Brent Rahim for Hayden Fitzwilliam and, for their first senior starts, Marlon Rojas, Densil Theobald and Kenwyne Jones for Brent Sancho, Keyeno Thomas and Carlos Edwards respectively.           

But, against the run of play, the Dominican Republic team was awarded a penalty after 17 minutes when Surinamese referee Antonius Pinas ruled that Marvin Andrews made contact with Omar Zapata inside the area. The decision stunned the TT players and the supporters but Kelvin Severino could only watch in dismay as his shot hit the upright and rolled out of play. The Dominicans were never a threat after that as the Trinidad and Tobago team asserted themselves in their opponents’ half. Scotland missed from close range from a Rahim right-side centre in the 21st; Stern John sent his tame left-footer overbar, in the 26th, from a Scotland lay-off; John had his 31st minute blast from close range saved by Oscar Abreu; Scotland, after receiving a squared-pass from left-back Rojas in the 33rd sent his right footer wide and John failed to connect on a Scotland left-side cross three minutes later.

But the pressure will eventually pay off for TT as, on a 49th minute counter-attack, captain Angus Eve sent a low right-side cross to an onrushing Scotland who shot home from eight metres out. John, who seemed more laid-back than usual, found Theobald on the left but his shot was saved by Abreu in the 56th but referee Pinas will award another penalty in the 70th, this time to the hosts, when Rahim was pushed by captain Flavio Tavares. John made no mistake with his shot, drilling his effort past Abreu.

Theobald, who have had an outstanding season for Arima/Morvant Fire, sent the crowd in a frenzy four minutes later when, on the left he connected on a Rahim diagonal ball and drilled his volley past the hapless Abreu. Another debutant, national youth team striker Scott Sealy, will put the icing on the cake five minutes from time; sent clear by fellow substitute Cornell Glen, he sent his one-time shot through Abreu’s leg and into the back of the net.

Teams — TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Clayton Ince; Marvin Andrews, Dennis Lawrence, Marlon Rojas, Kenwyne Jones; Anthony Rougier, Densil Theobald, Angus Eve (captain), Brent Rahim (Scott Sealy 75th); Jason Scotland (Cornell Glen 65th), Stern John (Kerry Baptiste 87th).
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Oscar Abreu; Flavio Taveras (capt), Franklin Garcia, Freddy Otano, Wilkys Obreu (Samuel Arias 62nd); Kelvin Severino, Manuel Abreu, Samuel Alvarez (Feliciano Corporan 88th), Omar Zapata (Luis Sanchez 21st); Edwarsds Espinal, Juan Conteras.