Trinidad and Tobago miss out

Trinidad & Tobago missed the chance to earn a spot in Mexico, as they were beaten 2-0 by Canada in the opening game of yesterday's quarter-final double-header in the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James.

The T&T team played quite tentative, if not timid, and were made to pay by the Canadians, who sealed their place in Mexico with first-half goals by Christopher Nanco and the dynamic midfielder, Kevin Aleman.

"We have not been to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 16 years so this means a lot to us, we are extremely happy," said Canada's coach, Shawn Cooper.

"This is a tribute to the club structure in Canada and something to build on for the future," he added.

Canada took the lead

After pinning down T&T for long periods with excellent attacks on both flanks, Canada took the lead in the 13th minute. The diminutive Nanco ran on to a long throw-in from the left flank and nodded powerfully past T&T's custodian, Quizi Weston, making the score 1-0.

With T&T still trapped in their defence and making very few attacking plays, Canada doubled their lead in the 20th minute with an absolutely brilliant strike by Aleman. He won possession in midfield and after leaving several T&T defenders as mere spectators with his superb dribble, he cracked a savage shot from the edge of the penalty area, which gave the goalkeeper no chance and made the score 2-0.

"I am extremely happy ... I wanted to score today and I wanted us to win so I got both of my wishes," said an elated Aleman, as he wrapped himself with a Canadian flag. "This means a whole lot to me and my teammates."

- A. F.