TT cruise past St Kitts 5-1

AN INSPIRED display, in front of a crowd numbering 7,000 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, guided Trinidad and Tobago to a 5-1 crushing of St Kitts/Nevis in their CONCACAF World Cup Group C qualifier yesterday. Veteran striker Jerren Nixon showed that he has lost none of his touch as he assisted in TT’s fourth goal and scored the team’s fifth, while recently-signed Coventry City forward Stern John notched a pair. While captain Angus Eve continues to be inconsistent at this level, team coach Bertille St Clair must have been heartened by the displays of a quartet of over-30 year-olds - Nixon, goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, defender Ian Cox and midfielder Anthony Rougier gave commanding performances.

The hosts got on the scoresheet after eight minutes of play, with striker Cornell Glen sent clear on the right by wing-back Kenwyne Jones and his cross was diverted into his own goal by defender Alexander Riley. Jones played a part in TT’s second item in the 23rd, chesting down an Eve left-side corner into the path of John who thundered his right-footer past Kittitian goalie Akil Byron. Striker Keith Gumbs pulled one back for the visitors in the 42nd, from the penalty spot, after American referee Ricardo Valenzuela ruled that he (Gumbs) was brought down by Andrews. Glen hit the side netting twice from tight angles on the right, in the 45th and 53rd minutes, while Byron made a point-blank save to deny a John header in the 64th. In the 70th, Jones and Eve teamed up for a give-and-go on the right and Jones’ low cross was met by Glen who shot home from the edge of the penalty area.

An 81st minute freekick from Gumbs shattered the upright, with Hislop beaten, but the introduction of Nixon with 12 minutes to go changed the tone of the game. In the 83rd, Nixon dispossessed Adam Newton on the right touchline and squared to an unmarked John who rifled his right footer past Byron and, in the 88th, an interchange between Nixon and John saw both men toying with Byron in the penalty box before Nixon placed his left-footer beyond the reach of the hapless keeper. The Trinidad and Tobago squad will travel to Mexico from 7 am today for Wednesday’s top-of-the-table qualifier. Lanky defender Dennis Lawrence will rejoin the team after missing yesterday’s game due to suspension while doubts remain over left-back Marlon Rojas, who was replaced by Brent Rahim in the 35th after sustaining an ankle injury.

Teams: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Shaka Hislop; Marvin Andrews, Ian Cox, Brent Sancho, Marlon Rojas (Brent Rahim 35th), Kenwyne Jones; Anthony Rougier, Densil Theobald (Silvio Spann 58th), Angus Eve (capt); Cornell Glen (Jerren Nixon 78th), Stern John.
ST KITTS/NEVIS: Akil Byron; Keithroy Richards, Alexander Riley, Thrizen Leader (Jevon Francis 81st), Toussaint Riley; Austin Huggins, Adam Newton, Darryl Gomez (Atiba Harris 85th), George Isaac (capt); Keith Gumbs, Ian Lake (Vernon Sargeant 50th).