A crucial win gave US a three-goal advantage . T & T , at home , hosting the Quarterfinal Second Leg in Nov . 20 , not only have to win but win large , at least 4 x 0 to overcome the deficit of -3 .
The USA dominated the match with a whopping 75 percent possession and limited the opponents to a single shot and none on target . The tone for the night was set from the jump as the U . S . was aggressive in the attack while Trinidad and Tobago sat back with 11 players deep in their defensive third and invited the pressure , showing admirable discipline for most of the match to deny a breakthrough goal
They ’ re playing defense 100 % to void a beating , a big loss . As their coach Angus Eve said : “ Still hurts , 6 x 0 is too much .” He ’ s referring to the last loss to US in Gold Cup on June 2023 by 6 x 0 .
T & T chose a 5-4-1 formation trying to reduce the possibility of taking too many goals . With all 11 tall and athletic men been playing defense , Trinidad ’ s goal area became their fortress .
The hurdle for the visitors got taller in the 38th minute when midfielder NOAH POWDER , who was already on a yellow card after a reckless tackle in the 18th minute , brought down midfielder Weston McKennie aggressively from behind , earning his second caution of the night , which called for an automatic red and his ejection from the game , leaving the Soca Warriors with 10 men to play the remainder 53 + minutes of game . – Few minutes later they changed to a 4-4-1 formation to adjust for the player loss .
WESTON MCKENNIE NOAH POWDER
Referee : Oshane Nation ( JAM ) lifting the 2nd yellow card to Powder
NOAH POWDER was in distress with the ejection from the game , he failed his team not only now but on the entire Quarterfinal . Powder gets a suspension and can ’ t play the 2nd Leg game at home .
GOALNEWS 9
Despite all , US couldn ’ t find a way to break T & T iron human wall defense and Trinidad and Tobago made thru the first half scratch free , no goals taken , it ended 0 x 0 .