Nicaragua hand TT, Saintfiet first defeat

Luis Peralta and Daniel Cadena were the goal-getters for Nicaragua, in the third and 48th minutes respectively, while midfielder Hashim Arcia pulled one back for the visitors, in the 75th in their first match under the guidance of Belgium- born coach Tom Saintfiet.

This result was Nicaragua’s first ever win over Trinidad and Tobago in four international meetings. In 1967, TT prevailed 3-1 in a CONCACAF Championship match while five years later, the twin-island republic whipped their Central American opponents 3-0 at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games. And on October 13, 2015, both teams battled to a goalless draw at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

On Tuesday, an unmarked Peralta rose above the defence and headed downwards past Adrian Foncette from a short corner on the left.

Cadena later unleashed a left-footed volley from 35 metres out which caught Foncette unawares early in the second half.

Arcia trimmed the deficit when he drilled home a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

In a post-game interview, Saintfiet said, “as a coach you don’t like to lose. I am disappointed with the result but I can’t be too disappointed in the performance of the team.

Nicaragua were full strength and naturally we missed a lot of players.

We gave some opportunities for players to make their debuts (striker Akeem Roach and defender Maurice Forde) with a lot of young players in the squad and it was the first game after only two weeks in training together.” The coach continued, “first half I think it was a neutral game. Both team didn’t really create chances and it was a little bit sad that Nicaragua scored immediately after a few minutes. It was a goal out of a standard situation with two players didn’t follow instructions of what was done in advance.

“The second half we wanted the make the equaliser but they scored a world class goal with a player shooting from 30 to 40 metres.

We were now pushed to score two goals.” “Tyrone Charles came on and did well,” added the TT coach.

“He hit the crossbar with a fantastic free kick and then he had a good cross. Then Hashim Arcia scored a good goal 15 minutes from the end.

We tried to press more and we had some good occasions.

“It was also difficult on the artificial pitch but we can’t change that surface. It was a very disappointing result but a satisfying performance for the first time of this team. Sure there were some weaknesses which we have to improve on and be ready for the future for the most important games against Suriname and Haiti (in the CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers in January) and then Mexico and Panama (in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March).” Both teams will meet again tomorrow as TT continue their build-up towards the Gold Cup qualifying matches against Suriname on January 4 and Haiti on January 8 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. TT resume World Cup qualifiers in March.

Teams - TRINIDAD AND TO BAGO: Adrian Foncette; Aubrey David, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Maurice Forde, Alvin Jones (Daneil Cyrus 80th), Carlos Edwards, Hughtun Hector, Nathan Lewis (Trevin Caesar 66th), Hashim Arcia (Curtis Gonzales 78th), Jomal Williams (Tyrone Charles 54th), Akeem Roach (Cornell Glen 54th).

NICARAGUA: Justo Lorente; Luis Copete, Jason Casco, Josue Quijano, Manuel Rosas (capt), Marlos Lopez, Luis Peralta, Elvis Pinel, Daniel Cadena, Bryan Garcia, Nofran Lazo.