A commanding display by T&T’s senior national men’s team was not reflected in the scoreline as the Soca Warriors edged Bahamas 1-0 in their second match of the Concacaf Nations League competition at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain on Monday night.
The result though sent T&T to second place on the standings in League B, Group C, behind Nicaragua who has four points from a win against T&T, and a draw with St Vincent and the Grenadines, yesterday.
Following a dismal display against Nicaragua in their opening game 2-1 loss on Friday, coach Angus Eve’s men produced a more disciplined show that pleased fans in the early moments.
However, it lacked deadly instinct in the final third as the Bahamians played with 11 men behind the ball after falling behind 1-0 in the first half.
The game was just four minutes old when Noah Powder delivered a pin-point corner from the right side that Neveal Hackshaw met sweetly on the head past Julio Jemison in the Bahamas goal.
The Soca Warriors continued their dominance in possession and came close to extending their advantage when Levi Garcia skipped past his marker and lifted the ball inside for Duane Muckette to head against the crossbar before it was cleared to safety.
The Bahamians, having knocked T&T out of the World Cup more than a year ago, fielded a very young team and this time failed to create a single chance against T&T in the opening half as defenders Kareem Moses, Aubrey David, and company appeared to have locked the back door.
Still, in attack, the home team surprisingly failed to add to the scoreline, courtesy in part to Jemison acrobatically going outstretched to the right to push wide Moses’ header from another Powder in the 24th minute.
T&T went to the half with a lead that did not match the dominance they enjoyed and when the game resumed, Eve’s men played with more purpose with both Garcia’s brothers, Levi and Judah shooting straight at keeper Jemison.
The Bahamas, despite their troubles getting past the T&T defense, got some room on the right side from Troy Pinder but with Marvin Phillip untroubled in the T&T goal, Pinder’s lifted effort failed to pose any serious threat.
Later, T&T felt they should have scored when substitute Reon Moore lifted a cross from the left side to John-Paul Rochford on the right to quickly centre for the unmarked Nicholas Dillon in the box. However, Dillon’s attempt at goal was somehow deflected wide by custodian Jemison.
The game ended 1-0 in T&T’s favour but no doubt coach Eve and his contingent have more work to do as the tournament progresses.
T&T team vs The Bahamas
T&T: 1 Marvin Phillip (GK) (captain), 16 Alvin Jones, 12 Kareem Moses, 2 Aubrey David, 19 Keston Julien, 15 Neveal Hackshaw, 8 Kevon Goddard, 7 Noah Powder, 10 Duane Muckette, 12 Judah Garcia, 11 Levi Garcia.
Substitutes: 21 Denzil Smith (GK), 22 Jabari St Hillaire (GK), 18 Shannon Gomez, 4 Sheldon Bateau, 6 Radanfah Abu Bakr, 3 Jameel Neptune, 23 Leston Paul, 5 Daniel Phillips, 20 Molik Khan, 14 John-Paul Rochford, 17 Reon Moore, 9 Nicholas Dillon.
Head coach: Angus Eve
