TT edge Bermuda 1-0

A GOAL by striker Stern John, after 17 minutes, was enough for Trinidad and Tobago to eke out a 1-0 win over Bermuda in Friday’s friendly international football match at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. John was the beneficiary of a midfield build-up as he smashed his shot, from close range, past Bermuda’s goalkeeper Nigel Burgess. As was the case 48 hours earlier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, the TT lads were heads and shoulders above their opponents, but once again squandered numerous goalscoring chances.

Midfielder Anthony Wolfe, who joined his brother Glenton on the starting lineup, sent a through ball to Gary Glasgow but he was unable to get the better of an advancing Burgess. John, who has looked so “out-of-sorts” that he receives numerous jeers from the crowd, while coach Leo Beenhakker seems noticeably tense every time he touches the ball, again missed a number of chances throughout the match. Glasgow found Rahim on the right during a 45th minute counter-attack with Rahim’s pass to an unmarked John skied overbar while, five minutes into the second half, John’s 20-metre blast flew past the uprights.

Forward Hector Sam saw his 51st minute attempt held by Burgess while, in the 57th, he missed everything after a right-side feed by Rahim. Bermuda’s lone effort on target came in the 58th, when striker Rohaan Simons outran TT captain Marvin “Dog” Andrews and drilled his low left-footer against the crossbar. In the 65th, substitute Kenwyne Jones sped past defenders Khris Frick and Maurice Lowe but powered his right-footer overbar and, 11 minutes later, John met an Edwards’ right-side centre but had his effort cleared by defender Kofi Dill. Beenhakker and his coaching staff also suffered two injury setbacks, with dreadlocked defender Brent Sancho pulling up with a strained right hamstring in the 68th while Rahim twisted his right knee in the dying minutes. But both are expected to be fit in time for the forthcoming live-in camp, which begins tomorrow.