Trinidad and Tobago no stranger when it comes to breaking Canadian soccer hearts
The numbers favour the Canadian males in Saturday’s high-stakes Copa America qualifier with Trinidad and Tobago in Frisco, Texas.
Canada is ranked fiftieth on the earth, in comparison with No. 96 for Trinidad. And the Canadians’ all-time report towards Trinidad is a commanding 7-2-2.
But the Soca Warriors have damaged Canadian soccer hearts earlier than.
On Sept. 3, 2000, earlier than a sun-drenched crowd at Port-of-Spain’s Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad thumped Canada 4-0 to finish its bid to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. Current Trinidad coach Angus Eve offered the ultimate nail within the Canadian coffin, scoring within the ninetieth minute to finish the rout.
Canada had been dealt a tricky hand within the penultimate spherical of CONCACAF qualifying, positioned in a gaggle with Mexico, Panama and Trinidad. And Canada discovered its again to the wall forward of the sport in Port-of-Spain, having opened the spherical by shedding 2-0 to Trinidad in Edmonton, drawing 0-0 in Panama and shedding 2-0 in Mexico City.
The World Cup qualifying elimination, with two video games remaining, got here simply six months after coach Holger Osieck’s workforce shocked the soccer world by profitable the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The sport was front-page news in Trinidad with followers packing the stadium hours prematurely. It was a cultural occasion as a lot as a sporting one.
Twenty-four years later, Trinidad midfielder Andre Rampersad is hoping to set off extra celebrations again house.
“If we can get through this game on Saturday, it’s going to be huge for Trinidad and Tobago football, putting Trinidad and Tobago on the map,” he stated.
Rampersad, who’s captain of the CPL’s Halifax Wanderers, says a 2-1 win over the United States in November was a “big confidence-booster” for his workforce.
“Going into this game against Canada, of course now we know we can actually beat a big team. So yeah, that’s going to help us, for sure.”
“Everyone is ready to go. Everyone is excited,” he added. “I think guys are confident.”
The Soca Warriors are led by midfielder Levi Garcia, who performs in Greece for AEK Athens.
“He’s a great leader,” stated Rampersad.
He pointed to Garcia’s efficiency in a 6-0 loss to the U.S. final July in Charlotte on the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
“Even though we were down and out, getting smashed, he was still trying his best,” stated Rampersad. “And that’s all you can ask in a great leader. He’s definitely shown that by example.”
Gacia additionally makes these round him shine. He set the desk for Rampersad’s lone nationwide workforce aim up to now, sending in a low cross that Rampersad flicked house with a nifty backheel in a 4-1 loss to Jamaica that preceded the U.S. Gold Cup defeat.
Canada and Trinidad fell into Saturday’s play-in after shedding CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals to Jamaica and the U.S., respectively.
The Canadians have been upset by the Reggae Boyz in November on the away objectives rule after blowing a 3-1 lead and seeing the two-legged sequence finish knotted at 4-4. Trinidad was overwhelmed 4-2 by the U.S. regardless of profitable the second leg on house soil.
Making the Copa is taken into account essential for Canada, a beneficial alternative to play elite groups because it begins its buildup in the direction of the 2026 World Cup. Plus 2026 co-hosts Mexico and the U.S. are already certified as Nations League quarterfinal winners, as is No. 44 Panama.
No. 15 Mexico and the Thirteenth-ranked U.S. meet in Sunday’s Nations League closing in Arlington, Texas.
The Canada-Trinidad winner slots into Group A at this summer season’s Copa America alongside top-ranked Argentina, No. 33 Peru and No. 42 Chile. No. 54 Costa Rica performs No. 78 Honduras on Saturday, additionally in Frisco, to determined the sixth CONCACAF visitor workforce within the 16-team discipline.
Saturday’s sport additionally comes with penalties for interim coach Mauro Biello, who’s a candidate for the everlasting job to succeed John Herdman as coach. Biello has chosen loads of youth in his 23-man roster, saying a “cultural reset” is required for the workforce.
Canada received 2-0 the final time it met Trinidad, in August 2012 in Lauderhilll, Fla. Canada was ranked 79th on the time whereas Trinidad was No. 80.
The Soca Warriors are coming off a pair of friendlies towards Jamaica, shedding 1-0 on March 1 earlier than taking part in to a scoreless draw two days later.
Rampersad is joined on the Trinidad squad by CPL newcomer Reon Moore, a ahead who signed with Pacific FC earlier this month.
