T&T advance with 1-0 win - Jamaica need a point tomorrow to join them

Western Bureau:

Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) qualified for the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship yesterday afternoon when a stoppage-time goal by Adan Noel gave them a 1-0 win against Guatemala in their Group C game at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay.

By virtue of T&T's win, host nation Jamaica, the third team in the three-team group, only need to avoid defeat in their game against Guatemala on Saturday to join T&T in the quarter-finals. However, they will probably want to win handsomely and top the group to avoid meeting Canada, who look all set to top Group C.

"Qualifying for the quarter-finals means a lot to us ... the team is young and inexperienced and came here to prove a point to the public back home," said T&T's coach Shawn Cooper. "This is not just for us, it is for the entire Caribbean."

In what was a keenly contested game in parts, Guatemala had the better of the early exchanges but solid defending by T&T kept most of the action away from their goalkeeper. However, the first chance fell to T&T in the 12th minute when Garvin Samaroo got to the edge of the box but fumbled.

Guatemala gradually began to take control midway the half and created several openings. On one such opening in the 20th minute, Franklin Garcia got away inside the box but had his shot blocked by an alert goalkeeper Quesi Weston, who had a good game.

After watching another Guatemala chance going to waste in the 32nd minute when Garcia pounced on a cross before the goal and fired wide, T&T wasted the easiest of chance in the 35th minute when Jomal Williams got to a rebound but hooked his shot high.

Good start to second half

Guatemala started the second half well and just missed taking the lead in the 46th minute when Bryan Lemus fired wide from six yards.

After T&T created and wasted a chance in the 60th minute when Garvin Samaroo got into the box, hesitated and lost possession, Guatemala wasted a similar opportunity two minutes later when Luiz Perez was dispossessed before the goal.

Midway the half, the fans were treated to good end-to-end action with both teams taking turns putting pressure on each other. However, Guatemala, who displayed better passing skills, looked the more composed of the two teams.

With time running out in the game and a draw looking the likely result, T&T got a free kick on the edge of the Guatemala penalty area moments into stoppage time. The initial kick by Noel was blocked by the wall but he fired home the rebound.

"This is sweet revenge for us because the last time we met Guatemala, in the 2009 tournament, they embarrassed us 3-0," said Cooper.

Today's games (at Jarrett Park): 12:30 p.m: Costa Rica vs El Salvador. 3 p.m: USA vs Panama.

- A.F.