'Los Ticos' beat Trinidad and Tobago to Concacaf U-20 spot

The objective for Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 team was clear, but executing it proved much tougher, as they were whipped 3-0 by Costa Rica in Alajuela on March 4, in their Concacaf Under-20 qualifier. The win saw Costa Rica finishing atop group E with ten points and will see them move on to the Concacaf Under-20 Men's Championships, with TT missing out on the sole qualifying spot as they eventually finished the group in third on seven points. Bermuda, which drew with both Costa Rica and TT, placed second with eight points. 

Needing a victory to leapfrog Costa Rica in the group and progress to the Concacaf Championships, coach Marvin Gordon's team never established a rhythm in the attacking third to pose enough of a threat to Costa Rican goalkeeper Ian Orourke. It could be argued that the hosts weren't particularly spectacular in the final third either, but they weren't the team in a must-win situation and needing to press the issue. Still, Costa Rica were clinical when they needed to be, and got the better of the TT defence three times through dead-ball situations. 

Trinidad and Tobago under-20 men's football team line up for their Concacaf qualifier against Costa Rica in Alajuela, on March 4. Photo courtesy TTFA 

After a needless foul outside the area from TT playmaker Dominic Joseph, Costa Rica's lanky forward Dax Palmer drilled a left-footer into the bottom corner in the 21st minute after Yamil Leal worked a short free kick to him. At the other end, TT struggled to pass through the press of the young "Los Ticos" team, and instead opted for long diagonal punts from centre backs Jeremy Meloney and Adam Pierre. The long ball tactic scarcely worked in TT's favour, with Costa Rica's captain, the 6'7" Matias Cordero, having a relatively comfortable day leading his troops from the back. 

With little momentum in their attacking play, Gordon would have been expected to turn to his bench much sooner than he did. TT's first change came in the 62nd minute, as Chaz Williams came in for Joseph, with striker Josiah Kallicharan entering the game for Phillip Nelson in the 69th minute. Kallicharan's first involvement saw him linking up with captain Derrel Garcia, who shot into the side-netting from a tight angle. 

TT's task became near-impossible in the 73rd minute, as striker David Garro sent a beautiful volley past goalkeeper Bryan Gafiuk after connecting with a right-side corner. Desperate to influence the game higher up the field, Pierre was found out of position as a TT play broke down. As he retreated towards his penalty area, Pierre was deemed to have fouled Gabriel Sibaja, with Yerlan Sosa making no mistake from the spot as his 81st-minute penalty assured Los Ticos all three points. 

Gordon may point to the heart and grit of his players, but it's another disappointing end to a qualifying campaign for one of TT's national youth teams. 

TT's starting line-up and formation for their Concacaf Under-20 Men's qualifier versus Costa Rica on March 4.