Jamille Boatswain (right) celebrates with teammate Darren Mitchell after scoring in Trinidad & Tobago's win over visiting Barbados on March 10, 2017, in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo: CA-Images)
COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago – It was a perfect start for a pair of debutants as Trinidad & Tobago earned a 2-0 victory over visiting Barbados in a friendly on Friday night at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Head coach Dennis Lawrence was at the helm for the first time and forward Jamille Boatswain celebrated his first-ever international appearance by scoring both goals after entering as a 32nd-minute substitute.
The match began with a minute silence as a mark of respect to T&T assistant coach Stern John, whose daughter Nikela passed away the previous evening.
Just four minutes after coming on for Jameel Perry, Boatswain struck for his first goal. The Defence Force forward collected a ball on the left from Darren Mitchell, before firing a right-footed shot into the top left-hand corner.
Boatswain doubled the Soca Warriors’ advantage in the 45th minute, when he latched onto Hashim Arcia’s pass and unleashed a right-footer into the far left corner.
Goalkeeper Marvin Phillip was the T&T captain, but faced little difficulty in recording the shutout.
Jamoul Francois, Jared London and Perry also made their senior international debuts for the host.
T&T used the match as preparation for two World Cup qualifiers later this month against visitors Panama (March 24) and Mexico (March 28).
