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Riding on Darryl Roberts' brace, Trinidad & Tobago defeated India 3-0 in an international friendly at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain as part of the +ONE India Caribbean Tour.
The first goal came of a penalty from veteran striker Stern John in the 19th minute while Roberts added two more in the 47th and 85th minute respectively.
Both teams started cautiously. While T & T tried to keep the possession trying to stitch as many passes as possible, the Indians adopted a more direct approach. India conceded the first goal in the 19th minute when Raju Gaikwad brought down Darryl Roberts on the right side of the box. Stern gleefully converted from the spot.
Stung by the early reverse, India tried hard to regroup and their best chance of the half came on the half-hour mark when Syed Rahim Nabi beat the T & T defence on the left, cut in but his right-footer just curled wide of the goal -- T & T just managing to hold onto the lead till the interval.
However, T & T doubled their lead immediately after the resumption when Darryl Roberts made it 2-0 in the 47th minute. The goal raised fears that India could be in danger of falling apart, but the boys combined well as they went all out to reduce the margin.
First a Nabi header off a Raju Gaikwad throw-in just went over the crossbar in the 53rd minute and then a couple of minutes later, T & T goalkeeper Marvin Phillips blocked Sunil Chhetri's effort and Nabi shot over off the rebound.
India had another chance in the 73rd minute but Jeje Lalpekhlua wasn't able to get it past an alert Phillips.
India conceded a late third goal in the 85th minute when T & T caught the Indian defence on the wrong foot and Roberts placed it past Subrata Pal.
Coach Armando Colaco said it was a learning experience for his boys. "Trinidad & Tobago are a much better team and they showed it why. It was a learning experience from my boys."
"But I'm proud of the manner my boys came back and fought. We take this experience to Guyana and hope for a better result," he added.