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Young Warriors held by Dominican Republic
St Vincent edge St Kitts
Kern De Freitas

Friday, October 27th 2006


Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 midfielder Aaron Downing goes up for a ball with Dominican Republic defender Gerson Garcia during their World Under-20 Championships qualifier on Wednesday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. The match ended 1-1

The national Under-20 football team will be looking for a resounding win as they go for goals against St Kitts/Nevis in their Group F qualifier for the World Youth (Under-20) Championships at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar today from 7 p.m.

Trinidad and Tobago dropped two points in their first qualifying encounter against the Dominican Republic when the visitors pulled back a goal in the 76th minute to grab a 1-1 draw at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Wednesday night.

Coach Brian Williams was more encouraged by his team's performance than the result, but hinted they would be working harder to convert scoring chances.

"What we have to make the guys aware of," Williams told the Express yesterday, "is to keep the high pressure up the field and be a little more offensive-minded in the game tomorrow (today) because we need to score more goals.

"We just have to continue what we're doing and do it with a little more purpose and be a little more offence-minded."

The young "Soca Warriors" held a short training session at St Anthony's College's Westmoorings ground yesterday afternoon, trying to work out the kinks that caused them to lose focus in a match they could have easily won by the margin of a few goals.

Skipper Radanfah Abu Bakr was the best T&T player on the night. Although he started shakily in his central defence position, he soon settled in, holding together the back line, and even attacking as they went forward.

His hard work paid off with his 45th minute goal from a free kick which nestled into the far vee, after strikers Lester Peltier and Matthew Bartholomew came close, but not close enough, to putting the hosts ahead.

In the 51st, T&T were spared embarrassment while celebrating after Bartholomew had put the ball into the back of the net. None of them saw the official's offside flag, or the consequent quick free kick struck by the visitors.

Only Keon Daniel was left to defend T&T goalkeeper Adrian Foncette, but luckily for them, the three Dominican Republic attackers made a meal of the gift.

They did, however, equalise 14 minutes from time when Leandro Garcia chipped in a free kick over the head of Foncette, who was positioned badly and could not stop the effort.

In the end, Williams also thought Wednesday's match comprised contrasting halves, with a good all-round performance fizzling out in the second period.

"(When) we looked at the second half we thought we gave the DR a little too much room to play in the second half, which gave them the opportunity to attack more," he said, adding that he did want to let the exact game plan "out of the bag".

The Kittians, meanwhile, come into today's match needing victory to stay alive, having been edged out 1-0 by St Vincent and the Grenadines on a Romano Snagg item early in the first period of Wednesday's opening encounter.
The first game of the double-header at the Malabar stadium features the Dominican Republic looking for full points against St Vincent, who are atop the group after their win.
The top team in this group will move on to meet seven other teams in the CONCACAF qualifiers for the World Under-20 Championships.

The second-placed country will face the runners-up from the other Caribbean group for their chance to take the world stage in Canada next year.

SOURCE: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index...s?id=161041429

lol...yeah the Kittians did lose...too bad licks in dey tail....