TT capture Group D in Digicel Cup

TRINIDAD and Tobago sealed Group D of the inaugural 2004 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Digicel Cup with a 2-0 triumph over Grenada at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Friday’s win assures Trinidad and Tobago of a Second Round home-and-away clash against the runners-up in Group E, which features hosts St Vincent, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and Bermuda, on December 12 and 19. The final round of matches in Group D will be played today at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, with the Grenadians meeting Puerto Rico at 4 pm while the hosts oppose Suriname two hours later.

Trinidad and Tobago have maximum six points from two matches, ahead of Suriname (two) and Grenada and Puerto Rico one each. Enigmatic striker Nigel Pierre put TT in front in the 20th minute, slamming his penalty past Grenadian goalkeeper Desmond Noel after midfielder Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick, sent clear by Densil Theobald, was brought down by Mark Marshall. Cornell Glen broke Grenada’s offside trap in the 36th but sent his left-footer onto the side netting.

The Grenadians hardly threatened TT’s defence, and conceded their second goal in the 49th. A right-side throw from Glen caught the Grenadians off-guard and right-back Cyd Gray ran through the vacant space and drilled his right-footer past Noel. Pierre missed three opportunities to extend the lead, in the 53rd, 69th and 88th while substitute Odelle Armstrong muffed a clear-cut chance in the 87th. The Second Round winners will advance to the Third Round, to be contested in a home-and-away series on January 9 and 16, with the Final Round scheduled for February 20-24 in Barbados.
Top three teams in the final phase will challenge for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be played off in the United States from July 6-24.