Source: www.guardian.co.tt
T&T’s Under-23 (Olympic) footballers go into their final match against hosts Dominica in Group B of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) London Olympic qualifiers tonight needing a win to have any chance of advancing to the second round. The match between, T&T and Dominica, the second of a double-header kicks off at Windsor Park Stadium, Roseau, Dominica from 7 pm. Two hours earlier, group leaders Netherlands Antilles and Grenada will face off with both teams also seeking a win. Going into today’s final round of matches, T&T and Netherlands Antilles are level on four points from two matches followed by Grenada with three points, and pointless, Dominica. However, Netherlands Antilles lead on goal-difference from T&T after both teams battled to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night while Grenada blanked Dominica 2-0.
For the young Soca Warriors, midfielder Marcus Joseph opened the scoring in the 58th minute from a Kaydion Gabriel right sided cross before Netherlands Antilles was reduced to ten men two minutes when Glenciéne Gregoria was shown a second yellow card by referee James Matthew of St Kitts/Nevis. T&T then came close to doubling its lead when captain Sheldon Bateau hit the post directly from a corner kick, however against the run of play, Netherlands Antilles stunned T&T in the 70th minute when Charles Martina got an equaliser. Netherlands Antilles was then reduced to nine men when G Poppen was issued a straight red card in the 73rd minute, but T&T could not take advantage and had to settle for a share of points, which did not go down too well with Bateau.
Speaking after the match the T&T captain said, “We should have won this game but we did not take the chances. It came down to chances in the end. After Marcus scored we should have stretched the lead.
“I thought we had more possession but the scores are even at the end of 90 minutes and we have to take a point only. This means we have everything to play for on Saturday (today) and the other game will be interesting too,” Bateau said. “We have the capability to get through this round but we need to finish better and stamp our authority in these matches,” he added. From the four-team tournament, only the winner will advance to the second round group of qualifiers. Already Cuba has qualified for the second round four-team CFU Olympic qualifiers after topping its three-team Group C series with wins over Aruba (6-0) and Guyana (1-0) last month.
Also on Thursday, Haiti kicked off Group D with a 2-1win over Antigua and Barbuda while hosts St Kitts & Nevis vs St Lucia. Today, St Lucia plays Haiti and St Kitts/Nevis faces Antigua and Barbuda while the group ends on Monday. The other first round group, will see Suriname hosting Group A with Jamaica, St Vincent & The Grenadines and Cayman Islands from August 3 to 7. From the second round tourney two will qualify for the eight-team Concacaf finals next year in the USA towards qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics.
Current CFU Group B standings:
Team P W D L F A Pts
N/Antillesuraćao 2 1 1 0 3 1 4
T&T 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
Grenada 2 1 0 1 2 1 3
Dominica 2 0 0 2 0 4 0
T&T
1.Andre Marchan (GK), 2.Aubrey David, 3.Mekeil Williams, 4.Sheldon Bateau (capt), 5.Aquil Selby, 6.Leslie Russell, 11.Sean De Silva, 14.Marcus Joseph (16.Cameron Roget 76th), 12.Jayson Joseph (7.Phillip Borde 84th), 13.Jeromie Williams (Yellow 17), 9.Trevin Caesar (17.Kaydion Gabriel 53rd).
Unused Subs: 8.Uriah Bentick, 15.Kareem Moses, 18.Zane Coker.
Coach: Angus Eve.