MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica  CMC – Trinidad & Tobago failed in their bid to reach the Under-17 Boys’ World Cup later this year in Mexico, when Canada stopped them 2-0 yesterday in the third quarterfinal of their CONCACAF qualifying round.
Christopher Nanco and Keven Aleman landed two goals early in the first half to slay the dreams of the Junior Soca Warriors in the third quarter-final of the CONCACAF qualifying championship at the Catherine Hall Stadium.
The result meant that the Canadians who face Panama in a semifinal matchup tomorrow and have a chance to post their best finish in this competition with a victory, will advance to the Under-17 World Cup as one of CONCACAF’s four qualifiers for the first time in 16 years.
The Canadians seized control of the match from early, with Nanco volleying high at the back post in the eighth minute, and Michael Petrasso dribbling past three T&T defenders and into the penalty area before being stripped of the ball in the 10th minute.
This sort of attacking intent was bound to reap rewards, and Nanco finally broke down the T&T defence in the 15th minute, when Parker Seymour’s throw-in from the left side of the box was headed on by Daniel Stanese, and the Canadian striker slipped between Trinidadian defenders Adan Noel and Nicolas Marcano to butt the ball in unchallenged.
T&T had little time to reorganise before Aleman doubled the Canadian lead.
He dispossessed Noel at the top of the offensive third, drove towards the top of the penalty box, where he worked left against Damani Richards, Dario Holmes, and Kiel Pierre before twisting and unleashing a left-footed blast that sailed just inside the right post past a diving Quesi Weston in goal for T&T.
T&T were fortunate to be only two goals down at halftime, after Nanco unsuccessfully fired again at the back post in the 35th minute.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) side had only two serious chances in the half from a long-range free kick struck by Marcano in the 25th minute, which Canada’s custodian Maxime Crepeau bobbled before recovering, and a promising sprint by Jomal Williams down the right side in 32nd minute that fizzled, when Marcano finished his pass with a high ball.
T&T showed more purpose in the second period, and Shackiel Henry tested Crepeau in the 54th minute with a twisting, right-footed drive from 20 metres that the Canadian keeper touched around the left post.
The Junior Soca Warriors played diligently for the remainder of the period, but produced very little danger, as Canada relied heavily on their defence to secure a third straight shutout.