FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – Trinidad and Tobago are a step closer to a return to the Concacaf Gold Cup after topping Montserrat 6-1 in the First Round of the 2021 Gold Cup Prelims on Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The win sends Trinidad and Tobago to the Second Round, where they will face the winner of Saturday’s Cuba-French Guiana contest.
The first goal arrived in the 21’ through Trinidad and Tobago’s Kevin Molino after a foul on DF Aubrey David in the Montserrat area. Molino stepped up and coolly converted from the spot to hand the Soca Warriors a 1-0 advantage.
Montserrat looked to respond but instead it was 2-0 to Trinidad and Tobago in the 35’ when Marcus Joseph caught Montserrat GK Corrin Brooks off his line and flighted in a shot from 40 yards out for the goal.
GOAL! 🇹🇹Marcus Joseph makes it 2-0 just before half time. #GoldCup21 🏆#ThisIsOurs pic.twitter.com/QOyiGqmaO8
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) July 3, 2021
Trinidad and Tobago then extended the lead to 3-0 in the 45+2’ when Ryan Telfer got loose behind the Montserrat defense and hammered in a right-footed shot.
Montserrat came out with plenty of fight to start the second half and pulled a goal back 3-1 in the 55’ when Lyle Taylor headed in after Spencer Weir’s shot deflected off the crossbar.
🇲🇸 GOAL! Lyle Taylor gets one back it's 3-1 in favor of 🇹🇹 Taylor scores the nations first ever goal in the #GoldCup 🏆 #ThisIsOurs pic.twitter.com/JY3ufHWTh3
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) July 3, 2021
But Trinidad and Tobago reasserted control two minutes later in the 57’ when Judah Garcia gathered in a long ball and finished to make it 4-1.
Momentum was clearly on the side of the Soca Warriors and Reon Moore stretched the lead to 5-1 in the 68’ with a right-footed finish.
The night was then punctuated by Moore tacking on another in the 82’ to round out the 6-1 scoreline.
