The presence of Dwight Yorke was certainly missed at the centre of Trinidad and Tobago's midfield for yesterday's friendly international with Panama. Without the calming presence of their captain Yorke, the Soca Warriors struggled to take control of the midfield but still managed a 2-1 scoreline at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
By Ian PrescottT&T were almost ahead inside the opening 60 seconds when Carlos Edwards went down the right side of the penalty area and hit his shot across the face of the Panama goal. Captain Stern John, playing his 100th game for T&T, had another chance in the fifth minute when collecting the ball on his chest and trying a delicate chip which goalkeeper Oscar McFarlane only just gathered within his grasp.
Kenwyne Jones finally made the breakthrough in the 33rd minute with good hustle. Anticipating a backpass to his goalkeeper by stopper Carlos Rivera, Jones got between the two Panamanians and poked the ball into the goal.
Collin Samuel doubled the home team's tally in the 40th minute when he collected a through ball from John down the centre of the Panama penalty area and stroked his low shot past the keeper. But, before the first half ended, the visitors struck back in the 43rd minute through a header from Anel Canales who met a left-side cross from teammate Victor Piggott who had eluded Cyd Gray.
In the second half, the Panamanians gave the Warriors a testing run, particularly on the left where right-back Gray was made to work by Piggott all night.
John, trying all evening to score on his 100th appearance, came closest when trying to flick in a low cross from Chris Birchall. But he was caught offside. John tried again with a long-range volley which was deflected wide in the 79th minute. From the resulting corner kick, lanky defender Dennis Lawrence headed the ball to Edwards, whose own header was just kept out of the Panama goal by the keeper McFarlane.
On the night, John could not get the goal that he so wanted but he at least got a share of the $80,000 which was donated by Dr Iva Gloudon from the Warriors Pride Fund which was collected from members of the public during the World Cup campaign.
