Youthful T&T thrashed 3-0 by Bolivia in friendly

T&T’s youthful senior football team went down 3-0 to Bolivia yesterday in an international friendly match at the Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera Stadium in Santa Cruz.

However, coach Derek King’s men would have earned more in terms of experience, with more than half the team being exposed to international competition for the first time.

Goalkeeper Jabari Brice was at his absolute best from the start, as the Bolivians, in deep preparation to qualify for the World Cup, attacked the T&T goal relentlessly.

The youthful T&T team played with a high backline against the quick, short-passing Bolivian game, which got a breakthrough in the 10th minute. Fernando Nava broke the T&T offside trap from a through-ball that met him all alone against Brice. But before he could offer a shot, defender Jesse Williams launched a desperate tackle that saw him get all ball to foil the attack.

Nava, who operated down the left flank, later delivered a pinpoint cross into the T&T penalty for Luis Haquin to connect with a one-time attempt, but Brice somehow fisted it wide in the 18th minute.

However, T&T could do nothing when Nava turned up unmarked on the left flank in the 23rd minute, and this time, when he centred for Haquin to head goalwards, Alvin Jones accidentally hit the ball into his own net, as he tried to clear it.

King’s youthful team expectedly struggled to find their confidence as they battled the high-altitude conditions, coupled with the international experience for the first time. For long periods, they found it difficult to put their passes together and keep possession of the ball, although they won the ball regularly.

Instead, the home team went two goals up in the 38th minute. This time, an unmarked Tonino Melgar released Moises Villarroel inside the box, and with a fluent movement, the latter quickly centred for Juan Sinforiano Godoy Vinales to bundle the ball across the line, although tightly marked by Jones.

King, who called for his charges to show discipline in attack and defence, looked on as Ryan Telfer cantered on to a through ball on the left side in the 42nd minute. He then cheekily cut inside to put himself on a one-on-one with the Guillermo Viscarra in the Bolivia goal, only to delay offering a shot, and allowed Hector Cuellar to hit the ball outside for a corner.

From the resulting corner, defender Ross Russell Jr struck it one-time on his unfavoured right foot; however, Viscarra went low to push it wide.

The teams went to the break with the home team leading 2-0, and when they returned, the home team went three goals up.

From another neat build-up around the T&T goal area, Godoy Vinales was set free inside the box, and he delivered a cross for Nava to have the simple task of tapping the ball into an open net in the 52nd minute for a 3-0 lead.

A minute later, Brice was called into action again, as Nava unleashed a thumping shot from on top of the T&T box, only for Brice to spring himself acrobatically to push wide in the 53rd minute.

With the FIFA Series expected to take T&T on a collision course with neighbours Venezuela on March 27 and Gabon three days later in Uzbekistan, King opted to expose some more of his youthful talent, such as Lindell Sween, Jaheim Faustin, Daniel David, and Elijah Cordner, among others, for some much-needed experience.

But with the result, King may feel a bit more comfortable as he leaves the South American nation. Bolivia will now enter the coming Inter-Confederation 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs as a more confident bunch as well. Following the recent draw, the Bolivians will face Suriname in Path B, and if successful, will meet Iraq for a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup. The playoff matches will take place during the March 2026 international window in Mexico.

Teams

T&T

1 Jabari Brice, 2 Darnell Hospedales, 3 Joevin Jones, 4 Jesse Williams, 7 Ryan Telfer, 14 Isaiah Garcia, 8 Addae Poponnette, 16 Alvin Jones, 17 Ross Russell Jr, 18 Andre Rampersad, 19 Shervohnez Hamilton

Subs

6 Adam Pierre, 9 Kaieem Lewis, 10 Daniel David, 11 Kathon St Hillaire, 12 Jaydon Caprietta, 5 Elijah Cordner, 13 James Lester, 15 Lindell Sween, 20 Derrel Garcia, 21 Teshorne Ragoo (gk), 23 Jaheim Faustin, 22 Jabari St Hillaire

BOLIVIA

23 Guillermo Viscarra, 2 Marcelo Torrez, 4 Luis Haquin, 6 Héctor Cuéllar, 8 Moisés Villarroel, 11 Fernando Nava, 14 Robson Tome De Araújo, 16 Ervin Vaca, 17 Lucas Macazaga, 18 Juan Godoy, 20 Carlos Melgar

Subs

1 Carlos Lampe, 12 Geronimo Govea, 3 Ian Rodriguez, 5 Richet Gomez, 7 Victor Abbrego, 10 Jesus Maraude, 13 Guilmar Centella, 19 Nabil Nacif, 21 Carlos Collazo