...as Peltier hits hat-trick in 4-0 win
Slovakian-based Lester “Corn-Curls” Peltier got his first international hat-trick while substitute Hughtun Hector added one as the T&T Soca Warriors got their stuttering Group B Concacaf Second Round 2014 FIFA Brazil World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with an unimpressive 4-0 victory over already ousted Barbados at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday. Peltier got his first as early as the seventh minute and added second-half items in the 52nd and 64th before Hector capped off the afternoon for the host with a clever chip over Barbadian goalkeeper Jason Boxill. The much needed win for T&T came three days after a 2-1 loss away to Bermuda and sees the Otto Pfister-coached Soca Warriors, minus a few of its regular starters including captain Kenwyne Jones, improve to nine points from four matches three behind group leader, the ‘Golden Jaguars’ of Guyana which hosted Bermuda in a late match last night.
The Soca Warriors and Guyana will meet in their final two qualifiers next month, which are now virtually must win encounters for Pfister’s men if they are to stay in the hunt for a second FIFA World Cup Finals appearance after making their debut at Germany 2006. Going into the encounter, pressure was on the Stern John-led Soca Warriors to get a win and Peltier got the host the start it needed when he worked a one-two with Devorn Jorsling just inside the Barbados half, before he ran onto the through ball, held off his Bajan defender inside the 18-yard box and slotted into an open net after goalkeeper Boxill ventured off his line in an effort to close down the T&T winger options. Eight minutes into the second-half, T&T defender Seon Power almost doubled the lead but his glancing header on the first post from a corner was kept out by Boxill while John failed to convert the rebound.
Soon after, Peltier made it 2-0 as he ran onto a clever ball over the top from half-time introduction Hayden Tinto and after beating Boxill to the ball at the edge of the area, he calmly slotted into an open goal to calm the nerves of coach Pfister, who up to that point had a frustrated look on the bench. Soca Warriors stand-in captain Stern John, who looked way short of his best but still managed to play the full 90-minutes, missed a golden chance to extend T&T’s lead when he fired straight at the feet of Boxill after being put through at the top of the 18-yard box by Belgium-based midfielder Khaleem Hyland as T&T looked to pressed home its strong start to the second-half. At the other end of the field, Norman Forde then had Barbados first real attempt of the second-half as he tested Soca Warriors goalkeeper Marvin Phillip from some 35 yards out. However, the T&T goalkeeper was equal to the task and easily collected the left footed effort.
By then, T&T was in full control and in the 62nd minute Peltier completed his hat-trick when he timed his run perfectly to collect a pass from US-based Kevin Molino and fired high into the roof of the net to complete a well worked counter-attack after the latter had broken up a Barbadian move just on the half-line. With the minutes winding down, Hector who had brought some much needed pace to the T&T midfielder with his introduction then put a seal on the victory as he collected a loose ball outside the 18-yard box and raced goalwards before chipping Boxill.
Result
T&T 4 (Lester Peltier 7th, 54th, 62nd, Hughtun Hector 89th ) vs Barbados 0
Source: www.guardian.co.tt