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Boyz stay home, T&T book berth
Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 team celebrating their qualification for the World Cup in South Korea later this year. Trinidad beat Jamaica 1-0 at the National Stadium last night to qualify along with the United States and Costa Rica from CONCACAF Group B. - Ian Allen
By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's Under-17 footballers failed in their bid to qualify for the 2007 World Cup after losing 1-0 to Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago last night at the National Stadium.
In the last game of Group B in the final CONCACAF qualifying round, the young Reggae Boyz took the several thousand fans on a roller-coaster ride of "oohs" and "aahs" but failed to get the mass celebration which would have come with a win. They had their fair share of chances but poor shot selection and passing got the better of the youths, who were aiming to become Jamaica's second U-17 team to qualify for a World Cup following the 1999 squad.
Kevin Molino got the qualifying goal for T&T in the 13th minute.
The result forced coach David Hunt to announce his resignation immediately after the match.
Earlier in the evening, the United States beat Costa Rica
2-1. They have qualified for every U-17 World Cup while Costa Rica were qualifying for their seventh. Gregory Garza (13th) and Ellis McLoughlin (19th) gave the Americans the early lead while substitute Marcos Urena pulled one back for Costa Rica in the 55th minute.
Something great
U.S.A. topped the group with nine points while Costa Rica ended on seven and Trinidad and Tobago on six. All three teams, along with Haiti and Honduras who qualified from Group A, will represent CONCACAF at the Under-17 World Cup in South Korea between August 18 and September 9.
Sensing they were on the verge of something great, and knowing a draw would only help their opponents, Jamaica showed their intention early when McKauly Tulloch turned in the box and fired just wide in the first minute. But Molino would be the one to give Trinidad the early lead when he scored a gem by latching on to a ball from the right side then rifling it past goalie Oneil Wilson in the 18-yard box.
In an effort to respond, Jamaica had a five-minute spell midway the first half where there was a barrage of shots on goal but none penetrated. Captain Dever Orgill had two chances from an acute angle but would have been almost impossible to score. He might have got a better result if he had crossed into the box.
The closest Jamaica came to scoring was in the 65th minute when Orgill put the ball in the net but his effort was ruled offside. Late substitute Christopher Waugh also had a header splendidly stopped by Trinidad keeper Glenroy Samuel, who had a good evening between the sticks.