The Soca Warriors who suffered their second defeat in a row in the Digicel Cup Finals after losing 1-0 to Grenada are eliminated from the tournament. It seems a far cry from the glory they achieved only 4 years ago when they competed in the FIFA World Cup and contested the Digicel Caribbean Cup Final itself.
The Soca Warriors started the game with an almost completely new side from the one that competed against Cuba and with coach Latapy obviously in no humour to suffer any more setbacks the team started well. After 6 minutes Molino headed the ball onto Jorsling who controlled well on his chest on the edge of the box and smashed his first time volley toward goal, only for Baptiste to make a wonderful flying save for the spice boys.
Both sides seemed to be more cautious than adventurous and knowing that a loss could cause irrevocable damage to their hopes for progression to the Digicel semi finals. While Trinidad looked the side more hopeful in combining passes and moving the ball forward, Grenada looked a threat in long balls over the top for the experienced duo of Bain and Facey who looked as if their pace and strength might just get them a chance.
Grenada dangerman Bain was in on 41 minutes but as he waited for the bouncing ball to strike on the volley, Jones had enough time to get back to make a last ditch tackle and stop the lethal front man.
Two minutes later as Bubb raced through for a one on one, Wolfe somehow managed to get back and dispose the Grenadian striker despite the spice boys appealing to referee Cruz for a spot kick.
The second half took much the same shape as the first but when substitute Keon Daniel found himself with space on the left hand side Trinidad looked as though they may score, but unfortunately drilled his shot wide when he had more time to approach the goal that he thought.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, but in this instance cometh the 69th minute when Kitson Bain scored what must have been the goal of the tournament. As he collected the ball on the far left of the pitch, he cut inside his marker and with 4 defenders in front of him, he just let fly from all of 25 yards and watched as the ball screamed into the top right corner of the Trinidad net, in off the post.
Trinidad were now up against it, facing two losses in two games and almost certain elimination. They responded well and threw caution to the wind and were unfortunate to have a goal disallowed on 73 minutes when Julius James had his header ruled out after referee Cruz adjudged he unfairly challenged for the cross.
Latapy rang out the changes and brought in some experienced players, but even they could not forage any real opportunities and Grenada were able to soak up the few challenges that Trinidad tried to put their way.
In the end, the clock ran out and as Cruz called time on the game, he may just have called time on the soca warriors involvement in the Digicel Cup.