TT U-15 coach rues missed chances in loss to Honduras

THE Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 football team lost their opening match to Honduras 2-1 at the 2023 Concacaf Boys Under-15 Championships at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Dominican Republic on Sunday.

Osmel Medina gave Honduras the lead in the 35th minute with a header, before Michael Chavez doubled his team’s advantage with a 49th minute strike.

Jeremiah Daniel pulled a goal back in stoppage time via the penalty spot in the 70-minute contest, but time ran out as the Central Americans held on for victory.

TT played Costa Rica after press time on Monday night.

After the match, TT head coach Shawn Cooper said, “I think tonight we showed that we could compete and go toe-to-toe with these Central American teams who are ranked above us.”

Cooper said his team must be more clinical in front of goal. “It was lesson for the boys where at international football you have to take your chances. They left the stadium tonight very disappointed because they knew this was a game that they could have won. They created a number of one-on-one opportunities in the first half. We could have won the game in the first half, but in international football if you miss your chances you could pay dearly in the end.”