National U-17 footballers aim to top Group E

TT Under-17 men’s football team will be aiming to top Group E when they face Mexico today, from 4 pm, in their final group phase match at the Concacaf Under-17 Championship at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, United States.

Jaiye Sheppard scored twice to guide TT to a hard-fought 3-2 win over Jamaica on Friday for their second straight win in Group E.

Jamaica opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Cristojaye Daley, who collected a cross from the right and slotted home past TT goalkeeper Isaiah Williams.

But TT replied in the 34th when Sheppard, on the left, went full stretch to meet a right-sided cross and finished from close range.

Striker Justin Araujo-Wilson put TT in front ten minutes later, taking advantage of Jamaica’s inability to clear the ball from the danger area. The ball fell perfectly to Araujo-Wilson around the penalty spot and he side-footed into the net past goalie Shamar Haffenden.

Sheppard got TT’s third in the 60th with a header, after a teasing right-sided cross into the penalty box.

Jamaica’s Dandre Miller was sent off in the 85th for his second bookable offence, but his team pulled one back in stoppage time, courtesy of a right-footed shot from Isaac Scott.

The performance brought a deserving win for the Stern John-coached outfit who secured their place in the second round knockout phase following a 3-1 win over Bermuda in their opener on Wednesday.

“I’m delighted for the boys," said John. "I spoke to them about the importance of this match and the fact that it is the biggest Caribbean derby, and they went out there and demonstrated exactly how they felt about it. They followed my instructions and stuck to the plan."

John continued, “Now we have showed that we came here to compete because I don’t think anyone gave us a chance coming into this tournament. Now we’ve proven them wrong and I’m backing my boys to keep their heads high and continue playing good football. It’s still a far way off in terms of qualifying for (the 2019 FIFA Under-19 World Cup in) Brazil but I will give them credit for pulling off two wins and showing that they are no pushovers.”

John, the ex-TT striker, pointed out, “These boys worked their socks off. They’ve come into the tournament and given ourselves a chance. I told them that this was a derby and that back in the day when we used to play Jamaica couldn’t compete with us and that it was about time Trinidad and Tobago got back onto the map. They competed with the Jamaicans, stood up to the challenge and came out victorious. I think it’s a credit to the boys, their belief and what we’ve been doing for the last couple weeks.

“I haven’t met a bunch of boys who are more honest. They are willing to work hard for the cause and stick together as a team no matter what. We went down 1-0 to Jamaica and I think for me, I’d probably hold my hands up. We gave them too much credit or respect in the first half. We dropped off and let them play in front of us. But we realised we had to change the system and go back to our normal way of playing and we matched them in every department. We got ourselves back into the game and I think we dominated the game from then on.” John ended.