Soca Warriors whip Cuba 3-1 to stay in League A

T&T’s Soca Warriors comfortably kept themselves in the A League of the Concacaf Nations League with a convincing 3-1 victory over Cuba at the Dwight Yoke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago on Monday night. 

The win coming after a disastrous 2-2 tie against the same opposition that basically ended their hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the tournament, prompted coach Derek King to call on his charges to be solid in the defensive third, while demanding that his players convert the opportunities that came their way. This call was met with a response of approval.

And after a slow but cautious start, midfielder Dantaye Gilbert push them ahead, racing on to a through ball in the 12th minute and skilfully lifted the ball over the advancing Raiko Arozarena in the Cuban goal for the 1-0 advantage. 

Later in the 27th minute Joevin Jones handed his team a two-goal cushion. Gilbert, the architect this time served to Jones all alone on the right side of the Cuban goal area, and the latter hit it hard and low past the Cuban custodian for a 2-0 lead. 

Both Jones and Nathaniel James could have added to the T&T scoreline before the break but both missed the target from inside the Cuban penalty area.

With two points from three matches, the Soca Warriors were staring relegation to League B in the face.

Meanwhile, Cuba who had just one point ahead of the host, did not give up the fight and were rewarded for their efforts in the 62nd minute when Dairon Reyes collected a rightside centre inside the T&T box and released it quickly to the uncoming Yasnier Matos to hit hard past Adrian Foncette for a 2-1 scoreline.

However, their celebrations were cut short almost immediately.

Substitute Real Gill was sent galloping on to a through ball in the 64th minute before he drove past the onrushing  Arozarena before hitting the ball into an empty net for a 3-1 scoreline.

The post Soca Warriors whip Cuba 3-1 to stay in League A first appeared on CNC3.