PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago were frustrated with a nil-all draw against Nicaragua on Tuesday night, in their final friendly international ahead of their campaign in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers starting next month.
Brimming with confidence following their 2-1 win over Panama away last week, T&T were brought back down to earth before their home crowd at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, as they failed to find a way past the defence of the Central Americans.
The first half was a story of half chances as the hosts could not carve out any real clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Joevin Jones shot wide of the uprights in the sixth minute with a long-range free kick and then just failed to get onto the end of a fine pass into the box from Keron Cummings in the 21st minute, as the Nicaraguan defence was alert to the threat.
The visitors, too, had little opportunity to get on the scorecard with the best falling to captain Juan Perez who shot over the crossbar on the 18th minute.
Neither side could gain a foothold in the second half and Trinidad and Tobago’s best chance came through Cummins in the 62nd minute but his low shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Justo Collado.
T&T will now turn their attention to the fourth round of the CONCACAF leg of the World Cup qualifiers where they have been installed in Group C alongside giants United States, Guatemala and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Their first game is scheduled for November 13 against Guatemala in Guatemala City.
