… Trinidad and Tobago blast SVG 6-2
GUYANA and Haiti failed to score, while host Trinidad & Tobago blasted St Vincent 6-2 when Group ‘F’ of the Digicel Caribbean Cup kicked off at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium on Tuesday before several hundred spectators. The Haiti-Guyana encounter failed to deliver a goal and lacked cohesion and flair that was anticipated.
Guyana, thanks to poor finishing again, only have themselves to blame for not securing the maximum three points.
They created a number of clear-cut opportunities but shot wide of the mark from close up.
In the final moments of the match, forward Devon Millington, from inside the six-yard box with only the goalkeeper at his mercy, pulled the ball wide of the upright and two minutes later midfielder Dwain Jacobs from just outside the area did likewise.
Guyana were undone in the first segment by poor passing in the midfield and lack of ball possession as the youthful Haitians also scratched to find a rhythm.
The second half was different and showed Guyana being reduced to ten in the 65th minute when midfielder Dwight Peters was given marching orders by Bajan referee Trevor Taylor after receiving two yellow cards.
Coach Dover then removed Anthony Abrams and brought on Shawn Beveney in midfield leaving Millington as the sole striker. Dwain Ali was then introduced after Sean Cameron had to exit with cramps.
It certainly was not the start that coach Dover expected and while he remains optimistic about Guyana’s qualification to the finals he knows the task is not easy.
“The result of the game is disappointing and with T&T winning handsomely it now makes it tough on us for the rest of the competition, but we are determined to qualify.
We did create opportunities to score but failed to convert. Having said that I must say that it is better to gain a point than to get none and for that we are grateful”.
In the feature match St Vincent and the Grenadines held their own in the first half to hold the Soca Warriors to 2-2, but in the second period the floodgates opened and the hosts exploded with four unanswered goals to win comfortably.
Devon Jorsling led all scorers with a treble while substitute Kerry Baptiste assisted with a double and there was one for Houghton Hector. Shandel Samuel and Corneilius Stewart were on target for the ‘Vincy Boyz’.
It was indeed a big win for the Russell Latapy-coached side which had a string of poor results in recent times and caused the Minister of Sport of T&T to demand positive results or the coach would have to go.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport the former T&T International Latapy said that his players made full use of the opportunities, hence the margin of victory.
Meanwhile, Latapy thinks today’s match-up with Guyana will be good, “Most teams in the Caribbean lift their game when they come up against T&T. I know Guyana will come at us hard since they are in a position where they must win. Our win against SVG has put us in a little comfortable zone. I expect a good battle with Guyana”
His opposite, Dover, is also cognisant of the situation and remains confident of winning. “Every game is a different performance and a different result. We are not much concerned about past results or history. We are here to win and will give our best performance as only our best could give us the victory. We will be ready to compete and get the needed result.
The Guyana-T&T game is set for 19:00 h and will be preceded at 17:00 h by SVG versus Haiti. Guyana will be boosted by the return of key starters Walter Moore and John Rodrigues who missed Tuesday’s game due to a one-match suspension, but will be without Dwight Peters.