FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’sopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals were dealt a severe blow Friday, when they were stunned 2-0 by Cuba on the opening day of competition.
Playing in the first game of the Group H doubleheader, T&T were undermined by goals on either side of the break, to slump to an unexpected defeat at the Pierre Aliker Stadium.
The highest ranked Caribbean Football Union side, T&T started positively but fell behind to Jaine Colome Valencia’s 23rd minute strike before Roberto Balmaseda’s 79th goal put the result beyond doubt.
With tough matches against Grenada and hosts Martinique remaining, T&T could be in danger of missing out on the final four.
In the feature game of the night, Martinique needed a late goal to draw 1-1 with Grenada in another Group H encounter
Keon Daniel had a great chance to put T&T ahead in the opening stages but he sent his shot just wide after a well-worked move on the edge of the area.
Cuba countered well, however, and their fluent passing and ball movement put pressure on the T&T defence, resulting in the opening goal when captain and midfielder Valencia produced a stunning volley from the edge of the 18-yard box to put the Cubans ahead.
Buoyed by their lead, Cuba continued to attack with Marcel Hernandez Companioni and Leonel Duarte Pla looking constant threats.
Head coach Russell Latapy wrung the changes at half-time, replacing Yohance Marshall and Kerry Baptiste with Daniel Cyrus and Jamal Gay, but this had little impact on T&T’s movement going forward.
Their fate was sealed 11 minutes from time when Balmaseda eluded his marker and got free on goal but chose to lay off to substitute Adonis Soler whose shot was blocked by a Trinidadian defender.
However, the rebound fell for Balmaseda who slammed home his shot.
The second game of the night ended in a share of the points for both sides after a competitive affair at the same venue.
Grenada soaked up early pressure to open the scoring in the 29th minute when Kitson Bain beat his marker to unleash a 20-yard volley that gave the French custodian Eddy Heurlie no chance.
In the second half, Martinique laid siege to the Grenadian goal and should have scored had it not been for the heroics of goalkeeper Andre Baptiste.
The pressure paid dividends in the 79th minute when Jose Goron was brought down in the box and stepped up to convert the resulting penalty.