Get Jed: Trinidad and Tobago under-21 midfielder Dev Lum Kit tries to rein in United States striker Jed Cunningham during 2008 Junior Pan American Hockey action on Thursday night at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua. The US advanced to the semi-finals while Trinidad and Tobago play for seventh spot tomorrow. -Photo: ROBERTO CODALLO

The Trinidad and Tobago national under-21 hockey team will contest seventh place tomorrow from 10.30 a.m. at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua after their Junior Pan American title hopes evaporated with successive defeats to the United States and Barbados on Thursday night and yesterday afternoon, respectively.

Trinidad and Tobago were confident of pulling off a victory against the United States, which would have guaranteed the hosts a semi-final berth, but crashed to a 3-1 loss instead after conceding three times in the opening 20 minutes.

Things got worse for coach Anthony Marcano's troops as they were trashed 8-3 by Barbados in yesterday's Playoff.

"We just couldn't bounce back mentally after the disappointment against the US," Marcano told the Express. "It is under-21s you are talking about and you're asking a lot of them to be so mature when (the loss against the US on Thursday) was the biggest disappointment in some of their lives."

It was an unforgettable day for Marcano too-in more ways than one.

His wife, Andrea, was involved in a vehicular accident on Lady Young Road, Barataria and the 36-year-old coach rushed to meet her at the hospital while his team headed to the turf. Andrea was shaken but, fortunately, not badly injured and Marcano rejoined the squad minutes before the start of their decisive Group A fixture.

 "I don't know if it affected (the players) mentally," said Marcano. "I tried to get it out of their head but it was difficult, even for me. Things do distract people, but I am not going to make excuses."

The United States only needed a draw to advance and Marcano opted for shock and awe from the flick off.

National under-21 captain and utility player Akim Toussaint is the squad's most gifted attacker but was used in central defence for their three opening group matches. Marcano opted to play him up front from the start on Thursday.

"We felt (US defender Kevin Barber) panics on the ball," he said, "and we wanted to use guys with speed and good ball control to put them under pressure from the start."

Toussaint started well enough as he won a penalty corner in the sixth minute and, three minutes later, forced a sharp save from US goalkeeper Kevin Segeren after a Joshua De Four pass. Toussaint's deputy, Mickel Pierre, met the rebound with an emphatic volley home and was halfway around the turf celebrating with his teammates before they realised they were awarded a penalty corner instead-presumably awarded because the goalkeeper's initial save had dangerously deflected the ball airborne.

It was another wasted penalty corner for the hosts and, in the 11th minute, their frustration grew as the US struck against the run of play when Will Holt converted after a meandering run by teammate Liam Walsh.

The local defence was rattled now and almost conceded a second straight away as Jed Cunningham got a clear sight at goal, but was denied by the reflexes of Trinidad and Tobago custodian Karlos Stephen.

Marcano reinstated Toussaint in central defence but the "Yankees" were in the ascendency and again punished hesitant defending with a clever penalty corner routine converted by Nicholas Szoke in the 18th minute.

It was 3-0 within seconds as Stephen failed to keep out a speculative Walsh attempt.

Toussaint returned up front but the hosts failed to capitalise from seven penalty corners, while Segeren kept out the opportunities that came from open play.

There were just 15 minutes remaining when Trinidad and Tobago finally got on the score sheet. Midfielder Dev Lum Kit started the play with an interception and then was on spot to bury the opportunity after another skillful sortie from Toussaint.

The hosts went for the full press and the North Americans struggled to get out of their half although they did not concede again.

Marcano did not think that T&T might have helped their cause by pressing the United States earlier in the match rather than trying to target one suspect defender.

"If we stepped up too early," he said, "we knew they had a guy at the back who can scoop pretty far."

Trinidad and Tobago expected to rebound against Barbados but again found themselves three goals down in the opening 20 minutes and 5-1 down at the interval.

Talented Barbadian attacker Che Warner ended with a hat-trick while captain Dario Jordan scored twice and Jemar Moore, Laurando Davis and Shonkeel Wharton had one apiece.

Matthew Tang Nian scored twice for T&T while Vieira, the promising 15-year-old defender, finished off a penalty corner in the dying seconds.

The hosts will hope for a stronger finish tomorrow on the tournament's closing day.

Junior Pan American Hockey

Thursday's Results:

Group B

Puerto Rico 5 (Ottus Santiago 2, Manuel Colon 2, Joseph Velasquez), Jamaica 0

USA 3 (Will Holt, Nicholas Szoke, Liam Walsh), T&T 1 (Dev Lum Kit)

 

Yesterday's Results:

Playoffs

Jamaica 7 (Charles Burton 3, Giovani Gordon, Orville Hicks, Gerren Rowe, Jerome Davis), Guyana 0

Barbados 8 (Che Warner 3, Dario Jordan 2, Jemar Moore, Laurando Davis, Shonkeel Wharton), T&T 3 (Matthew Tang Nian 2, Andrew Vieira)