Soca Warriors score come-from-behind victory

IN script similar to their last meeting on November 17, Trinidad and Tobago footballers rallied from a one-goal deficit to defeat St Vincent 3-1 in the first- leg of their Digicel Caribbean Cup third round fixture at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, yesterday. The return leg would take place in St Vincent this Sunday with the aggregate winner advancing to the final round in Barbados from February 20-24. While the electronic scoreboard continues to be redundant, the atmosphere was lively as both teams sought to gain an early advantage in front of a crowd numbering 4,000.

TT’s striker Nigel ‘Croc’ Pierre failed to put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute, as he tamely sent his shot straight at goalkeeper Melvin Andrews from a David Atiba Charles’ right-side centre. But, as they did in their previous meeting — a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo — the Vincentians capitalised on a defensive lapse and went ahead in the 25th. After he was fouled on the left by the rugged Anthony Rougier, veteran midfielder Kendall Velox sent his freekick into the box where it was headed home by an unmarked Renson Haynes. Nigel Pierre again muffed a goalscoring opportunity in the 38th, as he saw his header, from a Marlon Rojas’ centre, held by a diving Andrews.

The TT defence, missing the presence of Keyeno Thomas who was replaced in the 23rd for strained hamstring, caused nervous moments throughout the match, as goalkeeper Daurance Williams was never able to anticipate countless back-passes by Rougier (who dropped back to the sweeper role after the introduction of Densil Theobald) and captain Derek King. St Vincent would later rue a costly miss by Shandel Samuel in the 45th, from a feed by Haynes, the unmarked striker mis-hit his attempt from 10 metres out. In a three-minute span, temperamental playmaker Kerwyn ‘Hardest’ Jemmott, Rojas and striker Gary Glasgow (back after a lengthy layoff due to injury) would turn the game firmly in TT’s favour. In the 51st, from a Jemmott throw-in, Glasgow found Rojas on the left whose cross was muffed by Rougier but Glasgow was on hand to drill the loose ball home. From a quickly-taken freekick by Anton Pierre, Jemmott sent Rojas free on the flank and his left-side centre was relayed by Glasgow to Leslie ‘Tiger’ Fitzpatrick who rifled his left-footer beyond Andrews’ reach.

Nigel Pierre again squandered an opportunity in the 57th, sending his shot inches wide from a Jemmott pass but the striker would atone for his error in the 61st. Vincentian defender Cornelius Huggins, after breaking up a long run by Charles on the right, sent a feeble back-pass which was intercepted by Glasgow. With Pierre (N) free in the box, Glasgow’s pass was controlled and tapped into the open net.

Teams: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Daurance Williams; Derek King (capt), Keyeno Thomas (Densil Theobald 23rd), Marlon Rojas, Anton Pierre, David Atiba Charles; Anthony Rougier (Cyd Gray 87th), Leslie Fitzpatrick, Kerwyn Jemmott; Gary Glasgow, Nigel Pierre (Angus Eve 80th).

ST VINCENT: Melvin Andrews; Cornelius Huggins, Matthew Charles (capt), Benford Joseph, Rodney Francis; Howie Williams (Tyrone Prince 56th), Darren Francis (Matthew Forde 83rd), Kendall Velox, Alwyn Guy (Jamal Ballantyne 68th); Shandel Samuel, Renson Haynes.