Trinidad and Tobago's chances of advancing in the Concacaf Nations League were dashed Sunday night as they were beaten 2-1 by the Dominican Republic at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain.
A moment of silence to acknowledge former T&T Football Association (TTFA) general secretary Azaard Khan and Calypso icon Slinger Francisco, "The Mighty Sparrow", coupled with a scattering of fans at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, set the tone for a night when the home team needed a win badly.
T&T drew first blood when Dantaye Gilbert's powerful grounder took a wicked deflection that had goalkeeper Xavier Valdez scampering in only the second minute of the game.
However, a minute later, a silly defensive blunder allowed Mariano Díaz to use his pace to get past Justin Garcia, but he couldn't make full use of the opportunity, as his shot sailed high over the crossbar.
The Dominican Republic, winners of its first match, sought to strengthen their position by taking control, which regularly landed them in the T&T goal area.
National coach Derek King paced persistently from his seat to the touchline to encourage his charges, eager to rebound from a first-game loss against Haiti (2-1).
However, he was hopeful when Gilbert lifted the ball into the box following a patient build-up, only for Valdez to fist it as far as Daniel Phillip at the edge of the box. Phillip took one touch before connecting with a right-footed volley that sailed past Valdez for the lead in the 36th minute.
The Dominican Republic responded six minutes later. Phillip appeared to have broken a Dominican Republic attack in the centre in the 42nd minute, only for Heinz Morschel to unleash a rasping shot from 25 yards out that beat Jabari Brice in goal.
And as the game seeped into added-on time, they might have had a second goal. This time, Díaz outpaced Noah Powder into the T&T penalty area, only for the onrushing goalkeeper Brice to stop him in his tracks before the interval.
Soon after the teams returned to the pitch, the Dominican Republic snatched the lead. A long through ball from defence allowed Peter González to gallop toward goal in the 50th minute, and he unselfishly passed to an open Díaz, who curled the ball past Brice for the 2-1 advantage.
T&T's response was almost immediate as Gilbert used his pace to get down the left flank, only for his centre to be headed onto the crossbar by Levi Garcia, before being cleared to safety in the 52nd minute.
Garcia then turned provider in the 61st minute as his pass to Wayne Frederick II connected with a one-touch attempt; however, Valdez somehow pushed it wide.
Tempers flared between Frederick II and the Dominican Republic's Jeremy Báez, causing both to be given their marching orders by Grenadian referee Reon Radix.
T&T will next face Curacao away on October 1 and again at home on October 4 for pride.
