Trinidad and Tobago scored first but it was the same result on a different day as Mexico finishes off the TTFA Youth Invitational Tournament with a 4-1 victory over the home team at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva yesterday.
The T&T Under-15 team faced their final test against Mexico in the third and final day of the tournament who beat Venezuela 2-0 on Wednesday and drew 1-1 with Panama on Friday.
It was actually Trinidad and Tobago who would open the scoring early as Molik Khan scored for the 2nd time this tournament after a deflection off of a free kick. He managed to get to the ball before Mexican keeper José Tellez and knocked it in for the game’s opening goal in the sixth minute.
Mexico would respond shortly after in the 16th minute. After a corner, David Cedillo found André in acres of space on the right hand side. He fired a cross to Jésus Moreno who attempted a bicycle kick toward T&T’s goal. He didn’t make full contact, but it managed to find it’s way to Alejandro Alcalá for Mexico to draw level, 1-1. Both sides would have their opportunities but the first half would end with the scores level.
The 2nd half was dominated by Mexico in terms of possessions and scoring opportunities. The deadlock would be broken in the 75th minute. Mexican substitute Raúl Chávez receives a pass on the break into the right side of the penalty area and delivers a backheel pass to an incoming Javier Guerrero to give the Mexicans their 2nd goal of the evening.
Chávez wasn’t done serving the table however. Another counter attack sees the wide player dribble into the penalty area, this time on the left side and puts it on a platter for Miguel Carreón for Mexico’s third goal in the 86th minute.
Mexico’s final goal came with a bit of role reversal. This time it was Guerrero providing a penetrating pass to Chávez to slot it past Lazarus for their 4th and final goal of the tournament. 4-1 the final score. T&T was simply outplayed and outmatched in the 2nd half.
In the earlier game Venezuela and Panama played to a scoreless draw after 90 minutes. Both would finish the tournament with a win against T&T, a loss against Mexico and a draw.
After the match, head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier spoke to the media regarding their opponent Mexico and the tough test that the National Under 15 Boys were up against.
I spoke to the Mexican manager. These guys [Mexican U15 players] play 10 months of football, more than even our senior men locally. They are professionals. Their schedule is the same as the senior professionals. Their fixtures is the same as well. If the senior players playing in the evening or night, they play in the morning…Ten months is a lot, and that’s why these boys are so good at a young age…They play the game very mature for their age.
Stuart Charles Fevrier
Despite the result, coach Fevrier was still pleased with the National team’s performance and their mentality against Mexico.
I was very pleased that our players for the first 75 minutes were always in the game. We created chances in the game that we missed. We had a more professional mentality today in terms of the way we handled ourselves on the playing field; more serious, more professional.
Stuart Charles Fevrier
The next time the Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 team will be active wil be against Venezuela on Tuesday. That friendly and the TTFA Youth Invitational will be their prep matches for the CONCACAF U15 Boys Tournament in the United States, starting August 4th.
Photo Credits: TTFA
Q Sports 