Young Warriors finish third

The goals were due reward for Trinidad and Tobago as they produced their most convincing display on the final day of the two-week long tournament.

Jamaica, one of the favoured teams to lift the overall title, were never allowed to make any inroads in the TT defence, controlled by central defenders O’Neil and Robert Primus.

The TT midfield finally got things right, with defensive midfielder Chike Sullivan and playmaker Kevin Molino outstanding.

Knox forced Jamaican goalkeeper O’Neil Wilson to produce a fine reflex save in the 16th, heading a right-sided cross from his strike counterpart Daniel Joseph, while in the 40th, Joseph saw his effort blocked by the keeper after good work on the right by Sullivan and Chad De Freitas.

Another move on the right, four minutes later, saw a cross hit captain Jermaine Jarrett on his right arm, inside the penalty box, and Knox calmly tucked the spot kick under the lunge of Wilson.

Wilson was forced to clear an effort from O’Neil off the line after a deep freekick by Sheldon Bateau early in the second half while a brilliant move involving Knox, Molino and De Freitas saw the ball played into the penalty box to Joseph whose misdirected shot went straight to the goalie.

But Wilson could do nothing to prevent TT’s second strike in the 53rd, as O’Neil, on the edge of the penalty box, met a freekick from Bateau and saw his header sail over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Molino, who has done a fine job as a replacement for the injured Leston Paul, threaded a pass to De Freitas in the 66th but the winger saw his thunderous right-footer crash against the crossbar.

Jamaica’s chances were few and far in between, but John Ross Doyley tested TT goalie Jesse Fullerton with a stinging left-footer in the 74th. But the result was never in doubt, despite an ankle injury to Knox late in the match.

Teams -

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Jesse Fullerton (capt); Robert Primus, Ryan O’Neil, Sheldon Bateau, Brenton Balbosa; Chike Sullivan, Chad De Freitas, Akeem Adams (Daniel Cyrus 20th), Kevin Molino; Stephen Knox (Sean De Silva 81st), Daniel Joseph.

JAMAICA: O’Neil Wilson; Damaine Thompson, Jermaine Jarrett (capt), Sean Fogah, Christopher Banner; Kabari Palmer, John Ross Doyley, Kenneil Hyde (Auhdray Beckford 84th), Akeem Brown (Andre Steele 60th); Dever Orgill, Romario Campbell (Shavor Brown 55th).