Molino on fire against Dominican Republic

Action was in Group Four of the Caribbean Cup Third Round qualifiers.

Molino, who had indifferent performances in the recent CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala and the United States, and who was also part of a trio of TT players disciplined by coach Stephen Hart for breaking team curfew ahead of the Guatemala match, found the back of the net in the 14th, 19th and 54th minutes.

Cato, who like Molino plays in the American Major League Soccer (MLS), got his name on the scoresheet in the 31st.

Dominican Republic fielded two players with experience in the TT Pro League – captain and striker Jonathan Fana Frias and goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd, both members of the W Connection team in the late 2000s.

Frias looked a shadow of the player who terrorised defences in the Pro League while Lloyd was powerless to deal with the four goals his team conceded. TT captain Kenwyne Jones, celebrating his 32nd birthday, was given a through ball by Molino but the forward, having his shirt tugged by a defender, sent his left-footed shot straight at Lloyd.

Frias, on the other end, was given a pass by Wilman Modesta, but the striker seemed as indecisive as the TT defence at the time, and goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams did well to avert any danger.

Two minutes later, Molino opened the scoring with a left-footed shot to the right of Lloyd after centre-back Radanfah Abu Bakr diverted Joevin Jones’ corner towards the slimly-built playmaker.

Three minutes later, TT doubled the lead from a neat buildup on the right involving Cato and Cyrus.

The right-back sent an aerial ball to Kenwyne Jones whose headed pass met the head of Molino who finished from close range.

Dominican Republic team were offering nothing in attack, and their defence gifted Cato a goal, on the half-hour mark. Kenwyne Jones, in typical fashion, headed Williams’ long ball to the path of Cato. Lloyd and centre-back Cesar Garcia got in a tangle and Cato, contemplating a pass to Joevin Jones with the goal wide open, took the easy route and slipped the ball into the vacant net.

Molino would complete his treble early in the second half. Sheldon Bateau, who had an outstanding match in the centre of the TT defence, led a breakaway move and found substitute Levi Garcia on the left. The winger crossed to Kenwyne Jones who headed against the crossbar and Molino slotted the rebound into the open goal.

Dominican Republic coach Roberto Diaz was sent off by referee Kimbell Ward of St Kitts/Nevis for constant protestations while Garcia had to be stretchered off after he was sandwiched by Modesta and Domingo Peralta.

However, Cato prevented the visitors from getting a late consolation, when he cleared Cesar Garcia’s half-volley off the line, from a Jean Carlos Lopez’s corner.

Martinique, the other team in Group Four, will visit the Dominican Republic on Saturday and will host Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Jan-Michael Williams; Sheldon Bateau, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Triston Hodge, Daneil Cyrus; Kevan George, Khaleem Hyland (Andre Boucaud 57th), Joevin Jones (Levi Garcia 51st – Shahdon Winchester 73rd), Cordell Cato, Kevin Molino; Kenwyne Jones (capt).

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Miguel Lloyd; Cesar Garcia, Cayetano Bonnin, Ernesto Trinidad (Luis Ismael Diaz 22nd), Carlos Martinez; Rafael Flores, Eddipo Rodriguez (Domingo Peralta 63rd), Rony Beard (Jean Carlos Lopez 44th), Wilman Modesta; Jonathan Frias (capt), Darly Batista.