T&T’s Under-20 footballers and Bermuda shared the points in a 2-2 tie in Group E of their opening match of the Concacaf Under-20 Championships at the Costa Rican Federation Field in Costa Rica, Tuesday (February 24).
The T&T team had a slow start to the proceedings, as the Bermudans got their feet wet early in the match and launched some early attacks. Still, T&T should have taken the advantage in the 31st minute. Colin Joseph used his speed down the right side and then centred for the unmarked Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia, who could not control the ball inside the area and hit the ball over.
They were made to pay soon after for their missed attempt, from Jace Ryan Donawa in the 38th minute.
Brimming with confidence, the Bermudans prised open the T&T defensive structure a second time in less than three minutes, courtesy of a build-up down the left flank that was delivered to the unmarked Blayz Burnell Bergesson. But despite the lack of pressure applied to the latter, he hit the ball over the crossbar before the teams retreated to the dressing rooms for the break.
Upon the return to the field, the T&T defence was rattled again, this time from a Bermudan right-side corner that fell invitingly for overlapping defender Warren Emeer Peets in the 56th minute. But after taking the ball down nicely, Peets dragged his shot wide of the target.
In the fluctuating affair, T&T seemed not to have found favour with the football gods. ‘Zoom Zoom’ Garcia was set on a one-on-one with goalkeeper David Martin in the 60th minute, but still with the goal at his mercy, his attempt was somehow pushed wide by Martin to preserve the 1-0 lead.
However, T&T would not be denied, as Peets fumbled on the T&T attack and hit the ball into his own nets to level the score at one apiece.
Now, with the Bermudan defence still in disarray, Dominic Joseph cantered through from an earlier pass, and he beat Martin with a thunderous shot that rattled into the far corner for a 2-1 advantage for the T&T men.
Coach Marvin Gordon had his eyes set on the three points with the game nearing the end, but the Bermudans spoilt his plans. James Morrison got the breakthrough with his goal in the 84th minute for a share of the points.
Later, in another result in the group, Barbados and Sint Maarten played to a 1-1 draw.
T&T TEAM
1 Bryan Gafiuk, 3 Sheridan McNish, 4 Adam Pierre, 5 Jaydon Caprietta, 6 Caden Trestrail, 7 Malachi Webb, 8 Josiah Ochoa, 9 Phillip Nelson, 10 Derrel Garcia, 12 Colin Joseph, 14 Talan Mc Millan
Subs
18 Jadon-Paul Alexander, 21 Sylon Theophilus (gk), 2 Jeremy Meloney, 11 Chaz Williams, 13 Lyshaun Morris, 15 Jadon Mc Shine, 16 Jaden Chan Tack, Dominic Joseph, 19 Josiah Kallicharan, 20 Giovanni Hospedales
