FRISCO, Texas – Trinidad and Tobago conceded on the hour mark and then again in stoppage time, to slump to a 2-0 defeat to Canada and miss out on a place in the Copa America in June.
Trinidad and Tobago head coach, Angus Eve.Playing at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, the Caribbean side frustrated Canada to leave the game nil-all at the break, but Cyle Larin broke the deadlock in the 61st minute before Jacob Shaffelburg added a second in the first minute of added time.
The victory saw Canada qualify as the 15th of 16 teams for the June 20 to July 14 showpiece in the United States, with the final spot to be determined by Sunday’s playoff between Costa Rica and Honduras.
Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, were left to rue a golden opportunity to feature on the big stage, after a period away from the top flight.
“I thought for the most part the game plan went really well,” said T&T head coach Angus Eve.
“We created some really good chances and for a team that is ranked 96th and is playing against a team that is ranked 40-something positions ahead of us, I think we acquitted ourselves well.
“We had some really good chances and we should’ve scored first – maybe it would’ve settled us down. But I thought all in all, it was a great performance.”
T&T should have been ahead in the 18th minute when Levi Garcia slipped in behind the Canada defence, only to pull his low shot inches around the far post with goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau beaten.
Canada responded with a plethora of shots on goal with Johnathan David, Cyle Larin and Alphonso Davies all coming close.
Daniel Phillips squeezed off a weak shot in the 32nd that was easily saved and T&T then squandered yet another golden opportunity to take the lead almost immediately on resumption from the break, when Andre Raymon stormed into the box and shot narrowly wide of the far post.
They were made to pay for their profligacy, however, Larin finishing off a slick passing move just outside the 18-yard box, to slot into the far corner.
Garcia nearly found the equaliser when he was played through by 81st minute substitute Real Gill only to watch his rasping low drive saved by Crepeau.
With the game descending into an open affair, Canada grabbed their second through Shaffelburg, the MLS star finishing a flowing counter-attack with a thunderous left-footed volley from seven yards out.
“We know that [Trinidad and Tobago] are a good team,” Bayern Munich star Davies said afterwards.
“Both teams had something to lose. We both wanted to make it through, but overall it was a good game.
“They fought well, they played well and so did we and we’re happy we came out with the win.”
