T&T U-14s fall just short in 4-3 CFU semifinal loss to French Guiana

Trinidad and Tobago will settle for a place in Sunday’s CFU Boys U-14 Series third place playoff, after a 4-3 loss to French Guiana at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet tonight denied the hosts a chance at the regional trophy.

The young Soca Warriors never led and trailed 4-1 at the halftime interval before mounting a stirring but ultimately unsuccessful comeback, with second half goals from Adasa Richardson and Jahmiah Gibbes.

But French Guiana held on for the win, which propelled them to the CFU final. They will face Jamaica in Sunday’s showcase event after the young “Reggae Boyz” defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 in an earlier encounter at the same venue.

Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico will square off from 4.30pm at Bacolet while Jamaica and French Guiana clash from 6.30pm.

The host nation got to the knockout stages as Group A runners-up, with wins over Saint Kitts and Nevis (twice) and Aruba dampened somewhat by a 2-0 loss to Jamaica.

And they got off on the wrongfoot tonight as a dreadful loose pass by stand-in captain Reagan Rowe in the eighth minute picked out French Guiana flanker Matheo Francois on the edge of the Trinidad and Tobago penalty area.

And Francois’ finish was superb, as he beat Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Christian Telfer with a low drive into the left-hand corner.

The two-island republic did respond—and in some style too.

Just three minutes later, French Guiana defender Leo Josile miscontrolled a backpass from, ironically, Francois. Even more fitting, Rowe was the one to pounce on the mistake as he tore down the flank with the loose ball before crossing into the opposing box.

And forward Jeremai Nanton, his club teammate at City FC, took the cross on the chest before beating French Guiana goalkeeper Hugo Sante with a cracking angled volley into the far corner.

Remarkably, French Guiana took the lead again in the 13th minute. And, again, it was a memorable finish.

This time, midfielder Tyler Hartino, whose extravagant afro-hairstyle would raise eyebrows at SDA Harmon, let himself into the party as he stepped inside opposing midfielder Deron Blackman and beat the Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper with a dipping shot from outside the area.

Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Aaden Jones came close to a second equaliser in the 17th minute, after a Rowe pass, with an improvised shot on the turn that was tipped around the upright by a flying Sante.

But, instead, the visitors extended their lead via a Trinidad and Tobago own goal off a corner kick in the 19th minute, which Telfer charged for but couldn’t claim.

And in the 32nd minute, French Guiana winger Guezo Atoukou appeared to hit the light switch with a screaming left-footed free kick from distance that comprehensively deceived Telfer.

Trinidad and Tobago refused to accept their fate though. Coach Densill Theobald switched from 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 formation with advanced wingers for the second half while forward Adasa Richardson, who missed the last games due to injury was summoned from the bench.

Richardson pulled a goal back in the 59th minute, after releasing fellow substitute Darnell Walcott and then running on to the latter player’s first time cross to beat Sante with a shot that went in off the upright.

And, in the 63rd minute, Richardson had a decent shout for a penalty overlooked after he went down over Sante’s outstretched leg in the area, following the attacker’s deft control and turn from an Ackim Duncan pass.

Trinidad and Tobago did get another goal in second half stoppage time, as Jahmiah Gibbes hit home after Sante spilled a Sebastian James cross. But there was not enough time for an equaliser. Their opponents made sure of that with a variety of antics to run down the clock.

Trinidad and Tobago do not have the best under-14 team in the Caribbean. But there was still plenty to savour from the team’s attack-minded approach.

Theobald’s troops will seek to end their campaign on a winning note against Puerto Rico this weekend.

(Team)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Christian Telfer (GK); 2.Lucas Shaw (4.Kyen Anderson 36), 14.Kenai Richardson, 5.Essien Thomas, 15.Antoni James (12.Jahmiah Gibbes 36); 17.Aaden Jones (20.Samuel Balfour 50), 6.Deron Blackman (8.Ackim Duncan 50), 19.Sebastian James; 10.Reagan Rowe (captain) (7.Darnell Walcott 50), 13.Jaeden Anthony (11.Adasa Richardson 36), 9.Jeremai Nanton.

Unused substitutes: 18.Samuel Hosein (GK), 3.JaiMarley John, 16.Jaden Marcelle.

Coach: Densill Theobald

French Guiana (4-2-3-1): 16.Hugo Sante (GK); 13.Adam Adjibola, 2.Maiwen Papadi, 4.Leo Josile, 5.Edrod Dave Guirand; 6.Tyler Hartino, 8.Krysleim Seranot; 7.Matheo Francois, 10.Enzo Cherica (captain), 11.Guezo Atoukou (15.Lowan Adaoude 69); 12.Bahuan Cleovil (3.Hassan Cayol Pindard 70).

Coach: Mickael Hamon

CFU Boys U-14 Tier I Semifinals

(Friday 23 August)

Jamaica 3, Puerto Rico 1 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

French Guiana 4 (Matheo Francois 8, Tyler Hartino 13, Own Goal 19, Guezo Atoukou), Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Jeremai Nanton 11, Adasa Richardson 59, Jahmiah Gibbes 70) at Dwight Yorke Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Sunday 25 August)

Trinidad and Tobago v Puerto Rico, third place play off, 4.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Jamaica v French Guiana, final, 6.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium.