Substitute Trevin Caesar scored a late brace as T&T Soca Warriors continued their march towards the six-team Concacaf Final Round of Qualifiers with an emphatic 6-0 win over St Vincent and The Grenadines at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday.
In addition to Caesar, defender Sheldon Bateau, Joevin Jones, Kenwyne Jones and Kevin Molino were all on target for the Soca Warriors who now lead their Group C semifinal round group with ten points from four matches.
The win for the Stephen Hart-coached T&T squad also comes four days after it laboured in a 3-2 win over the same opponents at the Arnos Vales Sports Complex, Kingstown, St Vincent.
USA is next with seven points after it thrashed Guatemala 4-0 in yesterday’s other Group C match to leave the Central Americans third with six points.
St Vincent and The Grenadines are bottom of the group without a point, and out of contention to advance.
From the first blow of Dominican Republic referee Sandy Vargas’ whistle, the hosts stamped their authority with USA-based Molino coming close to an opener inside the first 45 seconds, off a right sided centre from Jones.
It seemed just a matter of time before T&T opened the scoring and in the 35th minute defender Sheldon Bateau finally put T&T ahead when he followed up on a shot by Joevin Jones which was parried down into his path by goalkeeper Lemus Christopher and fired into an open goal.
Just before the half-time whistle it was Joevin Jones again who almost made it 2-0, but his scorcher or a left footed from a lay off by Kenwyne Jones just missed the far post after a fast-break started by a a surging Hoyte run down the right side.
Five minutes into the second-half Joevin Jones made it 2-0 when he weaved down the right flank, cut inside on his favoured left foot and fired past Christopher on his first post.
Molino was then put through after Hyland won the ball and fed it to Joevin Jones, but he also failed to score. Seconds later the hard working Jones (J) eventually made it 3-0 when he side-footed home from close range off a Hyland right sided centre.
Molino then added his name to the scoresheet with a calm finish under the advancing Christopher in the 67th minute before substitute Trevin Caesar who replaced Molino in the 71st minute added two goals of his own in the 86th and 89th minute with clinical finishes to complete the 6-0 spanking.
T&T next entertains Guatemala on September 2nd with a point in that match sealing qualification ahead of its final match away to USA, four days later.
RESULTS:
2018 World Cup Concacaf Semifinal Round results:
Group C:
T&T 6 (Sheldon Bateau 35th, Joevin Jones 50th, Kenwyne Jones 60th, Kevin Molion 67th, Trevin Caesar 86th, 89th) vs St Vincent and The Grenadines 0
USA 4 (Clint Dempsey 12th, Geoff Cameron 36th, Michael Bradley 47th, Jozy Altidore 90th) vs Guatemala 0
TEAMS:
T&T: 1. Marvin Phillip (GK), 2. Aubrey David, 3. Joevin Jones (yellow 35th) (Sean De Silva 82nd), 4. Sheldon Bateau, 8. Khaleem Hyland, 9. Kenwyne Jones (captain) (Neveal Hackshaw 79th), 10. Kevin Molino (Trevin Caesar 71st), 13. Justin Hoyte, 14. Andre Boucaud, 16. Levi Garcia, 17. Mekeil Williams. Subs not used: 21. Adrian Foncette, 5. Daneil Cyrus, 11. Willis Plaza, 18. Yohance Marshall, 19. Shahdon Winchester, 23. Jomal Williams.
SVG: 1. Lemus Christopher (GK), 3. Roy Richards, 4. Jarrel Mc Master, 5. Shawn Benjamin, 6. Shemol Trimmingham,9. Myron Samuel (Dorren Hamlet 73rd), 10. Oalex Anderson, 12. Tevin Slater (Kyle Edwards 62nd), 14. Akeem Benjamin, 16. Jolanshoy Mc Dowald (Brad Miguel 55th), 17. Emerald George. Subs not used: 22. Kevan Hnery (GK), 15. Kevin Francis, 19. Shandel Samuel, 21. David Pitt.