Victories by United States and Costa Rica on Wednesday set up Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 17 footballers with everything to play for in their third match of the CONCACAF final round against Canada at the National Stadium, Kingston from 5pm on Friday.

The 2-1 win for the USA over Canada and Costa Rica’s 1-0 win over Jamaica means that T&T can still reach a maximum of six points with wins against Canada and the hosts and snatch third place on Sunday.

And there was better news in the T&T camp as injured player Chike Sullivan who suffered a knock and had to be taken to hospital against the Americans, and Jean Luc Rochford, with an ankle blow, were both able to return to training and are available for selection.

So far, T&T’s biggest problem has been converting their chances on goal and head coach Anton Corneal has been working on finishing in the last couple sessions and has reiterated the importance of composure and accuracy in and around the opposition goal. T&T out shot the Americans and also created timely chances against the Costa Ricans but have only five goals against them to show from the opening two matches.

After a final training session on Thursday, striker Stephen Knox, who has been the main man for T&T in attack admitted that the time had arrived for him to deliver. Midfielder Leston Paul is also yet to stamp his authority in any of the matches so far.

“I know that these next two games, especially this first one against Canada could decide whether we go to the World Cup or not. I haven’t scored in the last couple games and my team needs me to be at my best tomorrow. All of us need to play our best game because a lot is depending on how we do against them,” Knox told TTFF Media. He and his teammates have had three days break from playing and hopefully will have regained their appetite sufficient enough to overcome the opposition.

And despite the presence of a hardworking defense of Akeem Adams and company, the few moments of lapse in focus has resulted in punishment for T&T which could just force Corneal to introduce Robert Primus for Friday’s game.

Corneal himself knows that Friday’s match is really like a final before a final as a win will create a final hurdle to cross against Jamaica on Sunday.

“We know exactly what we have to do. We have two losses on our backs now but we still have it all to play for. It’s a situation where we have destiny in our hands and if we can settle early and play the right type of game then we can definitely force Canada off and come away with a win which will then set us up with all to play for on Sunday,” Corneal told TTFF Media.

Trinidadian head coach of Canada, Stephen Hart, said his team will by no means underestimate T&T.

“We have seen them play and anyone who wants to take them lightly would be wrong,” he said. Despite going two goals down inside half hour against the US, Canada fought back, pulling  a goal back early in the second half and pressing for long periods down the stretch.

“We need to be patient but also start well against them,” Corneal said. “There will be no room for silly mistakes or lapses in concentration. The team that wants it more will come away with it and hopefully we will be the ones with three points at the end of the match,” Corneal hoped as his players ensured that the bus driver had Kees Diefenthaller’s “Lion” and “Our Prayer” playing on the way to the training ground.

 Costa Rica takes on hosts Jamaica in the second game from 7pm. (May 4, 2007.Photos show up close view of the T&T U17 players. Captions below.)

Chad De Freitas on the training ground
Young Leston Paul talks to a teammate
L-R De Freitas,  Ryan O'Neil, Kevin Molino,Akeem Adams, Aubrey David and Jean Luc Rochford
Sheldon Bateau and Chike Sullivan during a scrimmage
Chike Sullvan
Stephan Chang
Sean De Silva
Akeem Adams
A smile from Paul
Akeem on the ball
De Freitas and De Silva
Chad's back
Micah Lewis wipes the sweat
Rehydrating
Chad returns to the pitch
Rochford focused
Daneil Cyrus
Bateau and Molino
Brenton Balbosa
Ryan O'Neil
Stephen Knox
Anton Corneal speaks to the players in a session at Harbour View
Assistant coach Hutson Charles walks off the field
Corneal and Wim Rijsbergen after training on Thursday
De Freitas after training
Goalie Glenroy Samuel and Adams after training
Knox and De Silva depart the pitch after training
Paul has some water
Molino, Bateau and Cyrus share a moment after training, looking ahead to the do or die encounter
Isaiah Ferguson after training
Corneal addresses the players in the meeting room and they take in another playing of Kees Diefenthaller's "Lion".