T&T's Soca Warriors advanced to next month's Caribbean Cup finals without kicking a ball, after the first match of the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, double-header, yesterday resulted in a 1-0 victory for Suriname over St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Despite the win, which came as a result of a converted penalty from Suriname's captain and custodian Ronny Aloema in the latter stages of the first half, neither team was able to advance, leaving the other two teams in its group T&T and Cuba to scrap for top spot in the night's second match, despite both teams progressing. T&T lost 1-0 to Cuba, who topped the group with T&T finishing second.
Cuba's goal came in the 28th minute through Artulo Guerra.
It was only a matter of consolation for Suriname which lost its first two matches to Cuba (5-0) and T&T (3-0). The Vincentians, however, were still in contention for a spot in Caribbean Cup, but failed to live up to the hype it created after holding Cuba and T&T to draws.
The only goal in the match came as a result of the spot kick which was awarded for a foul on Joel Pinas in penalty area. Aloema slotted home a left footed effort to the right side of the goal to beat the Vincentian goalkeeper Kenyan Lynch who went the other way.
St Vincent started brightly, with its striking duo of Myron Samuel and the T&T Pro League based Cornelius Stewart making their intentions clear as Suriname failed to contain the speedy runs on the left side flank.
It was Suriname, however, which had a strong case for an opener in the 21st minute, when Giovanni Drenthe took a shot which was parried over by Lynch. He was sent through by Wilfrid Galimo, who led the attack for Suriname.
On the other end, Samuel and forward Wendell Cuffy pushed for SVG and the latter almost gave his team a deserved lead 31st minute, had Aloema not been equal to his powerful strike. Waal almost doubled the lead in the 44th minutes when he latched on to a cross but collided with keeper Lynch.
Suriname came out of the lockers looking the more determined team as Drenthe's left foot shot in the 48th minute was wide of the goal. Stewart responded for St Vincent as he sped down the left hand side but was charged for a pushing on the goal line. Suriname pushed for a second as Galimo Pinas pressed the St Vincent's defence.
The Vincentian back line was not a formidable as in their draws against Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba and was without Wesley Charles who was injured in the one all draw against T&T on Wednesday.
St Vincent made changes in pursuit of a winner. Romano Snaggs replaced Cuffy but when a limping Stewart was replaced in the 69th minute, St Vincent's chance of scoring looking dim.
Suriname's win meant that Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba qualified for the Caribbean Cup Finals even before the two teams clashed in the second match.
