Trinidad and Tobago U-20s whip Barbados 5-1

Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 football team got their first win of the Concacaf Men's Under-20 qualifiers on February 26 when they hammered fellow Caribbean team Barbados 5-1 in Alajuela, Costa Rica, to shoot to the group E summit. 

It was a much-improved showing from the TT team which drew 2-2 with Bermuda in a scrappy opener two days ago. Coach Marvin Gordon took full responsibility for the result against Bermuda, and signalled his intentions early for their second matchup by making as many as four changes to his starting lineup. 

Those changes perhaps had the desired effect as TT certainly started on the front foot, opening up a 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes. First, in the fifth minute, combative midfielder Josiah Ochoa calmly rolled in at the back post when Barbados failed to deal with a short corner from captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia. Four minutes later, TT's lead was doubled when left back Jaydon Caprietta beat goalie Damario Harewood from a tight angle. 

Just before halftime, TT got their third when lively playmaker Dominic Joseph passed into the net from close range after Chaz Williams picked him out with ease from the right byline. Both Joseph and Williams were brought into the starting XI for this game, with the former replacing his namesake Colin Joseph and Williams taking the place of speedster Malachi Webb, who operated on the right flank in TT's opener. It was Dominic's second goal of the tourney, as he came off the bench to briefly give TT the lead against Bermuda in the first clash. 

Trinidad and Tobago men's under-20 central midfielder Jadon McShine (centre) makes a pass against Bermuda, with teammate Dominic Joseph (right) watching on keenly. Photo courtesy TTFA

In the 70th minute, Swansea City Academy player Josiah Kallicharan came off the bench to make it 4-0 when he calmly finished off a ball over the top from Garcia. Though the win wasn't in doubt, there were a few shaky moments at the back for Gordon's charges. In the 75th minute, goalie Bryan Gafiuk did brilliantly to save a penalty from Barbados' Jordan Bryan, who was brought down by a retreating Jadon McShine. 

In stoppage-time, an irate Gafiuk had his clean sheet spoiled when Tre Moore headed in a beautiful left-side cross from Kamari Johnson. Before the Bajan consolation, Garcia got his name on the scoresheet in the 90th minute when Harewood made a meal of a stinging free kick from the TT number ten. 

With four points to show from their first two matches, the TT boys will enjoy a few days of rest before returning to action in Alajuela with a match against Sint Maarten on March 2. 

Only the group winner will advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Championships later this year, and coach Gordon and his staff will surely keep a keen eye on hosts Costa Rica, who play Sint Maarten and Barbados on February 26 and 28, respectively. 

Trinidad and Tobago U-20s play to Bermuda draw

In November, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda played to a 2-2 draw as the teams ended their Fifa 2026 World Cup qualification campaigns. On February 24 in Alajuela, Costa Rica, the two nations again showed there was precious little to choose between them as their men's under-20 football teams battled to a 2-2 draw to kickstart their qualifying campaigns towards the 2027 Fifa Men's Under-20 World Cup. 

With Costa Rica on a bye to start group E of the Concacaf qualifiers, TT and Bermuda had the chance to take an early lead in the group after Barbados and Sint Maarten played to a draw earlier in the day. At the end of a scrappy and sometimes chaotic affair at the windy Costa Rican Football Federation Field venue, neither coach should say their team's display warranted all three points. 

TT's lineup was an enticing one on paper, as speedy forwards Malachi Wibb and captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia flanked striker Phillip Nelson up top, while ball-playing midfielders Josiah Ochoa and Caden Trestrail operated as a double-pivot in the middle of the park. Whether down to nerves or the trying breezy conditions, TT never really found fluidity in their build-up play, although they did create a handful of chances in transition. 

Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 football team line up for friendly action. Photo courtesy TTFA

Without a true "number six" or gritty ball-winner in the middle of the park, TT often looked bare on the defensive end as Bermuda broke down their lines with ease. In the 24th minute, TT should have taken the lead, but Garcia blazed a volley well over the bar after Nelson went on a mazy run through the heart of the Bermuda defence. 

In the 38th minute, TT's own defensive shortcomings were found out as Kennahz Fray split the defence with a raking pass out to the left flank, allowing Jace Donawa to coast past right back Talan McMillan and round goalie Bryan Gafiuk to score. 

Coach Marvin Gordon's response was immediate for TT, as he made a triple substitution at halftime, which saw Jadon McShine, Dominic Joseph, and Chaz Williams enter the game for Trestrail, Webb, and Colin Joseph, who started in the number ten role behind Nelson. Mere moments into the second half, TT were fortunate not to have Ochoa sent off, as the midfielder committed a naughty foul while already on a booking. The St Benedict's College man was swiftly subbed off in the 53rd minute, with winger Giovanni Hospedales taking his place. 

Though the team's buildup play remained disjointed, the speedy threat on the counter-attack also persisted. Just past the hour mark, Hospedales was denied by goalie David Martin after being played in by Garcia, while Dominic had a stinging right-footed shot brilliantly tipped over in the 64th minute. In between those TT chances, Gafiuk kept his team in the game when he saved with his feet to deny a surging Donawa, who had been played in with a long ball. 

With TT supposedly running out of answers, lively Swansea City Academy player Josiah Kallicharan provided a much-needed spark off the bench. In the space of a minute, the lanky Kallicharan played a hand in two goals as TT stunned Bermuda to take a 2-1 lead. In the 78th minute, Kallicharan squared from the byline into the six-yard box, with defender Emeer Peets unfortunately bundling the ball past his own keeper with Nelson in hot pursuit. Just seconds later, Kallicharan slipped in Dominic, who spanked a right-footer into the corner to give TT the unlikely lead. 

In a game which saw TT conceding numerous needless free kicks, Bermuda responded with an 84th-minute equaliser as substitute James Morrison beat Gafiuk with a looping header from a deep Khari Sharrief set piece. 

Both teams tried desperately for a late winner, but settled for a share of the spoils. With only the group winner advancing to the Concacaf Under-20 Championship later this year, TT will surely need improved performances if they are to top the hosts and win this group. TT will next play Barbados on February 26. 

TT starting team (4-2-3-1): 1.Bryan Gafiuk (GK); 14.Talan McMillan, 3.Sheridan McNish, 4.Adam Pierre, 5.Jaydon Caprietta; Caden Trestrail, 8.Josiah Ochoa; 7.Malachi Webb, 12.Colin Xavier Joseph, 10.Derrel Garcia (c); 9.Phillip Nelson. 

Trinidad and Tobago land March 15 friendly with Bolivia

Trinidad and Tobago's men's football team are likely to have a busy period over the next month, as they have landed a March 15 friendly with Bolivia. The Bolivia friendly will be followed by matches in the Fifa Series against Venezuela and Gabon on March 27 and 30, respectively. The Bolivia friendly comes outside of the Fifa international match window, which runs from March 23-31. 

The upcoming matches for the Dwight Yorke-coached team were confirmed by the TT Football Association (TTFA) on February 23. 

The Bolivia game will be played at the Estadio Ramon Tahuichi, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. When TT Bolivia met in a friendly in Sucre in January 2022, the then Agus Eve-coached team suffered a heavy 5-0 loss. Some of the players who featured in that game for TT were Justin Garcia, Neveal Hackshaw, Alvin Jones, Molik Jesse Khan, Reon Moore, Noah Powder, and Ryan Telfer.  

Trinidad and Tobago men's football team line up for a World Cup qualifier against Bermuda at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in November 2025. Photo courtesy TT Football Association 

TT are currently 97th on the Fifa rankings, with Bolivia ranked at 76th. Bolivia placed seventh in CONMEBOL's World Cup qualifying. The match comes at a contrasting time for the two teams as Bolivia are preparing for a Fifa 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoff with Suriname on March 26, while TT will be involved in the Fifa Series in Uzbekistan, having missed out on a spot in this year's World Cup. The winner of the playoff match between Bolivia and Suriname will take on Iraq for a place at the World Cup. 

The TTFA release said details regarding squad announcements and match coverage will be communicated via its official platforms in due course.