TT Under-20 footballers whipped 3-1

TRINIDAD and Tobago Under-20 footballers bowed out of the CONCACAF qualifying series for the FIFA World Youth Cup in the Netherlands with a third defeat yesterday. The young Trinidadians put up a spirited display but still went down 3-1 to Panama at the Home Depot Centre, Carson, California. Playing most of yesterday’s game with 10 men after a player was ejected, the Trinidad and Tobago youngsters found themselves trailing midway into the second period.

But a never-say-die effort saw them get a consolation goal through Marcel Francois. After being beaten 6-1 by the United States, the Trinidad and Tobago youths were unlucky 2-1 losers to Costa Rica in their second game, before again going down to the Panamanians. Two teams from the CONCACAF group will qualify for the World Cup. Meanwhile, the United States were attempting to preserve their 100 percent record when they took on Costa Rica in a later game. And they took the lead through Ed Barrett early into the opening session.