Henry nets five as TT rout St Kitts U17s 8-0

This game was a Group “E” encounter, of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Final Round Qualifiers, for the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Mexico.

Kiel Pierre, Garvin Samaroo and Glenn Sutton also got their names on the scoresheet for the Ross Russell-coached squad, against a St Kitts/Nevis outfit who were a player short for the majority of the match.

However, Trinidad and Tobago struggled to find any rhythm and cohesion in their play, and missed a host of chances, will have to improve tremendously if they are be considered worthy contenders for the World Cup.

In fact, the hosts only looked threatening in the second half, with the St Kitts/Nevis players fading badly under the midday heat (the officials decided to use brief water-breaks once in each half), and with a numerical disadvantage after goalkeeper Michael Perez was sent off in the 35th minute by referee Enrico Wijngaarde of Suriname.

Trinidad and Tobago needed eight minutes to break the deadlock, as captain Karl Muckette found Pierre on the right flank and the midfielder, unmarked, drilled his right-footer to the right of the outstretched Perez.

And Perez’ game ended shortly before the half, when he was shown a red card for a sliding tackle on Henry, outside the penalty box, as the striker chased a ball down the left flank.

Replacement goalie Keron Michael then looked on as Muckette’s freekick went wide of the mark.

The scoring resumed in the 47th, as Samaroo met a low pass from left- back Nicholas Marcano and shot through the legs of the advancing Michael.

Striker Henry got in the act in the 62nd, racing past two defenders and hitting to the left of Michael while, five minutes later, he outmuscled St Kitts/Nevis captain and central defender Clyde Mitchum, rounded Michael and stroked his left-footer into the open net.

Henry completed his hat-trick in the 73rd, as he stayed on-side, after collecting a ball from Sutton, moved past Michael and, once again, placed his left-footer into the empty goal.

While his teammates continued to misfire in front of goal, Henry was terrorising the opponents’ defence, and he had a part to play in Trinidad and Tobago’s sixth item.

In the 78th, Michael came out the penalty box to block a through pass to Henry, but the striker picked up the loose ball and struck the uprights. Sutton was on hand to drill the loose ball home, inside the six yard box.

Henry got his fourth in the 84th, with a leaping header from a left-sided cross, and in stoppage time, he drilled a shot beyond the reach of Michael to complete the rout.

Trinidad and Tobago will tackle Cuba today, at Macoya, from 5 pm, while Bermuda and St Kitts/Nevis will each be seeking their first point of the tournament when they square off two hours earlier.

Group ‘‘F’’ (the dates and venue are yet to be finalised), will comprise Jamaica, Haiti, Guyana and Barbados.

The top two finishers in each group, along with the best third-place side, will qualify for next year’s CONCACAF Under-17 Championships.

Teams -

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Quesi Weston; Dario Holmes, Damani Richards, Nicholas Marcano, Tarik Nicholls; Jomal Williams, Neil Benjamin, Kiel Pierre (Glenn Sutton 66th), Karl Muckette (capt) (Tevonne Morris 67th); Garvin Samaroo (Dwight Quintero 80th), Shackiel Henry.

ST KITTS/NEVIS: Michael Perez; Clyde Mitchum (capt), Javier Gaiton, T’Koi Huggins (Rasshede Harris 65th), Vidal Hendrickson; Donroy Liburd, Akimba Lawrence (Keron Michael 37th), Kimaree Rogers, Khyron Phillip; Glenroy Samuel, Tulmal Nisbett (Giovanni Claxton 60th).