MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, CMC – Paris Saint-Germain star striker Edinson Cavani struck a double to send Trinidad and Tobago tumbling to a 3-1 defeat to Uruguay, their second heavy defeat in five days.
Playing at the Estadio Centenario on Friday night, the Trinidadians snatched a shock early lead through Jomal Williams but Cavani netted twice in the first half and Matias Vecino added a third early in the second half, to give the South American strongmen victory in the international friendly.
Last Monday, the Soca Warriors were humbled 4-0 by Peru in Lima and fared little better this time around.
Uruguay signalled their intentions when Carlos Sanchez had the ball in the back of the nets after just two minutes but the effort was ruled off side.
Unfazed, T&T picked themselves and responded gallantly and were ahead in the seventh minute through Williams. Shahdon Winchester got the better of Mauricio Victorino and set up the W Connection forward who beat goalkeeper Martin Silva with the resulting strike.
The hosts drew level in the 25th minute when Nicolas Lodeiro was fouled in the area by Weslie John and Cavani converted from the spot.
And the six-footed attacker was on the mark again six minutes before half-time when he tucked home a rebound after goalkeeper Marvin Phillip had parried an attempt.
Down 2-1 at half-time, any hopes of a comeback for T&T were thwarted inside the first ten minutes when Vecino scored in the 52nd minute, tapping in from Diego Rolan’s cross.
Though coach Oscar Tabarez made several changes, Uruguay continued to press and the Caribbean giants were forced to defend until the end to keep the scoreline intact.
T&T will now take on China in Qin Huang Dao next Friday.
