Trinidad and Tobago’s chances of progressing out of the group in the Concacaf Nations League were dealt a severe blow when they were shut out 2-0 by Honduras at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain last night.
The visitors got a second-half goals from Bryan Velasquez-Moya (52th) and Douglas Martinez (90th) as skipper Kevin Molino’s side was confined to yet another defeat in what has been a horrible run for them so far this year.
And on another day the scoreline could have been much wider, as the visitors enjoyed the better of the exchanges on the night and it was only some desperate defending by Daneil Cyrus, Alvin Jones and company which prevented further goals.
In the 52nd minute, Alberth Elis skilfully blew past Cyrus on the right flank before delivering for Velasquez-Moya to hit powerfully past goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
And Martinez was again at the centre of the attack for Honduras again, this time he stormed down the right side and released for an unmarked Martinez Juarez Douglas to drill the final nail in the T&T coffin in the 90th minute.
The Warriors, who started strong despite a small turnout of fans, also finished the match with nine men after Levi Garcia was given marching orders in the 72nd minute for his second bookable offence and Mekeil Williams was shown a straight red for a vicious tackle in time added on at the end of the match.
Earlier in the seventh minute, sloppy defensive work by Sheldon Bateau almost allowed a deflected attempt to squeeze past T&T goalie Phillip.
TT’s best chance came in the 25th when Molino picked out Sheldon Bateauwith his left-sided corner, but Bateau’s powerful header crashed against the crossbar before going to safety.
Later, Ryan Telfer combined with Khaleem Hyland but the latter, with miles of room in front him, saw his shot sail overbar.
The teams went into the interval goalless but afterwards, Honduras dominated the affair.
However, T&T should have scored a consolation item in the 85th when Molino’s cross from a freekick found Akeem Garcia unmarked at the back post but he failed to connect with the ball.