SOCA Warriors head coach Angus Eve has defended his tactics, including the decision to start Tobagonian forward Rundell Winchester, in Monday's 1-1 draw with Nicaragua in the Concacaf Nations League, at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet.
Eve said Winchester, who has yet to score a national goal in ten years, looked lively in training and was the best option.
The draw ended TT's hopes of being promoted to League A as Nicaragua topped Group C of League B with 14 points, one ahead of TT. The result also saw Nicaragua qualify for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup in June.
TT will now have to compete in the Gold Cup qualifying tournament which will be held days before the Gold Cup kicks off.
Winchester, who had just four caps in a decade, was surprisingly called up by Eve and given the nod to start against Bahamas on Friday, and again on Monday. Despite Bahamas' defensive deficiencies, Winchester failed to really trouble the goal and was hooked in the second half as TT were comfortable 3-0 winners.
Against Nicaragua Winchester was substituted at half-time after another unimpressive showing.
Winchester got a golden opportunity to score in the first half after some impressive build-up play, but he missed the target from a few yards out.
Speaking to the media after the Nicaragua match, Eve explained why he chose Winchester. "He started the last game. He did not do badly, although he did not score. We felt that out of the strikers we had, he was the most in-form when we saw him in training so he got another opportunity today."
[caption id="attachment_1008058" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Trinidad and Tobago football fans support their team in Monday's Concacaf Nations League match vs Nicaragua at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. - Photo by David Reid[/caption]
TT forward Reon Moore has been a consistent threat for TT under Eve with pace and trickery. He has also been finding the back of the net and was the only player to score in two friendlies vs the Reggae Boyz in Jamaica earlier this month.
Striker Marcus Joseph also looked more dangerous in his brief minutes off the bench and almost had the winner against Nicaragua, which was ruled a hand-ball. He should have had an assist against Bahamas but captain Joevin Jones missed a glaring one-on-one opportunity.
Despite TT dominating possession in the first half, Nicaragua went ahead through a header from Ariagner Smith, in the 27th minute. Jones levelled the match with a penalty in the 42nd, after Ryan Telfer drew a foul.
Kaile Auvray, 18, was the standout player for the hosts in the first half with his passing and dribbling ability leaving the crowd in awe.
Wing backs Keston Julien and Shannon Gomez also provided attacking outlets to the team
Holding midfielders Andre Rampersad and Michel Poon-Angeron were also solid in the first half.
Eve said, "I thought both of them were good. Poon came on the last match and I thought he brought energy and he started to pass (the ball)."
Eve said playing Rampersad and Poon-Angeron allowed the wing backs to at
