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Reggae Boyz net late equaliser against T&T
February 10, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago's Josiah Trimmingham was both hero and villain, as he scored both goals in Jamaica's friendly international football match against Trinidad and Tobago at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex last night.
The Montego Bay United defender put Trinidad ahead with a 29th-minute header, but also scored an added-own goal to salvage a draw for the home team.
Reggae Boyz coach Steve McClaren said defeat for the team would have been cruel, but credited the players' character.
"The energy. That kept us going all the way. We never gave up and it showed in the consistency and commitment of the team.
"With five minutes to go I thought we had the chances. We hit the bar, we missed opportunities, and when I calmed down and reflect I think we did not deserve to lose the game," he said.
"We created chances and I like the second half, I like the intensity and that is a demonstration of what a Jamaican team should be like going forward. That is what I like and that is what I want to see."
Jamaica were positive from the start and threatened the Trinidad goal with three telling crosses, which no one could get on the end of, in the opening five minutes.
Trinidad slowly worked themselves into the game and Justin Garcia came close to scoring a header in the 13th minute.
Nevertheless, Jamaica were the more aggressive in attack, although John-Paul Roshford fired one just over for Trinidad in the 18th minute.
Daniel Green came close to the opener for Jamaica in the 24th minute but he dragged his shot wide.
Minutes later, a Trinidad defender had to clear off the line after good build up play and cross from Christopher Ainsworth.
Trinidad then came inches from the first goal when goalkeeper Jahmali Waite had to push a corner against his own post.
However, from the second corner, Trimmingham rose to head home at the back post and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Jamaica continued to create good openings from crosses, but their best chance for an equaliser came from Jahshaun Anglin's shot from the edge of the box.
Fitzroy Cumming also had a great opportunity with two minutes left in the first half, but his weak effort was cleared by the Trinidad defence.
Jamaica started the second half brightly and Warner Brown, who hit the bar and Stephen Young came close to erasing the deficit.
Both teams made a full host of changes on the hour mark, but Jamaica kept the visitors on the backfoot and Kimani Arbouine blasted the best chance over the top, after a loose ball fell to him in the area.
However, with time running out the Reggae Boyz fought relentlessly to win back possession, and kept bombarding the Soca Warriors' goal until Trimmingham turned the ball into his own goal.
"I expected the game to be very competitive," said Trinidad and Tobago's coach Dwight Yorke. "The fans who watched the game walked away seeing probably two of the best teams in the Caribbean go head to head.
"It was highly entertaining, very aggressive at times as we would expect, but some good stuff in between that," he contended.
"But in the end I suppose we will be a little bit disappointed in terms of the result. We have a bigger vision in terms of where we want to be and this was a good test against a very good Jamaica team," he said.
