Under-17s draw, must improve

The World Cup is scheduled from August 18 to September 9 in South Korea. Peru, who edged the young Soca Warriors 1-0 in their first match at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, failed to adopt a more aggressive approach as their coach Juan Jose Ore hinted after Thursday’s contest. But the hosts, despite their brave defensive showing, need a lot of work, particularly in ball control and cohesion in attack, if they are to be a threat in South Korea.

The national strike pair of Stephen Knox and Daniel Joseph were hardly given any penetrative passes from their midfield, which comprised of captain Leston Paul, Chike Sullivan, Micah Lewis and Aubrey Davis, with the latter quartet prone to giving away the ball at crucial moments. Peru, with highly-rated striker Reimond Manco the focal point of their plays, were a handful with their passing and speed, but the TT central defensive twosome of Sheldon Bateau and Robert Primus did well to repel their forays.

Manco, voted as the Most Valuable Player at the South American qualification round, selfishly refused to feed an unmarked Cesar Ruiz in the penalty box, instead going to goal but his 12th minute effort was smothered by national goalkeeper Jesse Fullerton. With his strategy of positioning himself on either flank before the final pass was delivered, Manco again broke the TT offside trap, this time on the right, but he shot wide in the 25th after leaving left-back Akeem Adams in his wake. Bateau had Trinidad and Tobago’s first meaningful goalscoring opportunity, heading Jean-Luc Rochford’s corner-kick wide in the 27th and, eight minutes later, Rochford’s pass to Lewis on the right was re-directed to Joseph but the striker failed to connect on his headed attempt.

Lewis’ 63rd minute corner found Rochford in the penalty box and, surrounded by Peruvians, the right-back released Paul but the midfielder rifled his long-range drive overbar. On the other end, midfielder Gary Correa threaded a fantastic pass to Manco on the right, but an alert Fullerton averted the danger while, six minutes later, in the 71st, Manco returned the favour but Correa’s left-footed effort skied overbar.

Two of TT’s seven substitutes failed to convert on their chances later in the match. In the 78th, Lewis was sent clear on the right by Paul but his cross to striker Isiah Ferguson was needlessly sent over Pedro Gallesse’s goal from eight metres out.

And, with four minutes to go, stopper Ryan O’Neil, with Gallesse at his mercy, failed to gather a deep freekick from Paul, and the ball was quickly cleared by the Peru defenders.

Teams - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Jesse Fullerton (Glenroy Samuel 72nd); Sheldon Bateau, Robert Primus (Ryan O’Neil 69th), Akeem Adams, Jean-Luc Rochford; Chike Sullivan (Sean De Silva 59th), Aubrey Davis (Stephan Campbell 59th), Micah Lewis, Leston Paul (capt) (Akeem Dillon 88th); Stephen Knox (Isiah Ferguson 69th), Daniel Joseph (Kevin Molino 60th).

PERU: Pedro Gallesse; Nestor Duarte (capt) (Jairo Hernandez 55th), Manuel Calderon, Joseph Munoz, Juan Zevallos; Anthony Molina, Gary Correa, Cesar Ruiz, Bryan Salazar; Yovic De La Cruz (Christian La Torre 76th), Reimond Manco.