GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago limped out of the CONCACAF Under-20 tournament here Friday night, after a 5-0 crushing at the hands of Mexico.
In the penultimate series of preliminary round action, they were undermined by a terrific hat-trick from Taufic Guarch and a brace from Alan Pulido, as their dreams of reaching the next round went up in smoke.
They entered the game with a slim chance of advancing following a nil-all draw with Cuba in their opening encounter. But their dreams were shattered as early as the seventh minute when Guarch found the target, and the goals never stopped flowing for the Mexicans.
T&T finished Group D tied on one point with Cuba but their Spanish-speaking counterparts advanced on goal difference.
The Trinidadians are the second English-speaking Caribbean side to be eliminated following Jamaica’s exit on Thursday after losing their second straight game.
Though already qualified for the quarter-finals, Mexico did not relax and Guarch had them ahead when he tucked in a rebound after Pulido’s initial effort was parried by goalkeeper Stefan Berkley.
He added a 25th minute header thanks to Ulises Davila’s left-sided cross and T&T were effectively shut out of the game when Pulido rolled in the first of his brace six minutes later.
In the 41st minute, Berkley charged off his line in an attempt to prevent the fourth goal but his efforts were in vain as Pulido converted Saul Villalobos’ cross into the box.
At halftime, T&T appeared poised to suffer an embarrassing rout but Mexico added only one more in the second half.
Guarch hit the post in the 47th minute before completing his hat-trick two minutes later, volleying home a cross from Pulido.
T&T had no answer and though they forced Mexico goalkeeper Carlos Lopez into diving saves in the 69th and 74th minutes, never looked like hitting back.
In the other game played, Costa Rica beat Canada 3-0, behind goals from Juan Golobio (34th), Joel Campbell (66th) and Minor Escoe (90th).