Trinidad and Tobago’s senior footballers didn’t exactly get the perfect result prior to their Gold Cup kick off in Los Angeles next week as they conceded three second half goals in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Honduras at the Morazan Stadium, San Pedro Sula.

Missing several of it’s regular World Cup team members, T&T shocked the hosts in the 17^th minute when defender Keyeno Thomas sent them ahead. The big defender was on spot to tap home when a Christian Baptiste right side corner was connected with by Anthony Noreiga and as the ball rebounded after an initial stop, Thomas stuck in to beat the hapless Orlin Valecillo in goal.

The goal seemed to have given the sort of cushion T&T needed as they went into the affair not exactly favoured for a positive result against the usually hostile Hondurans. With a highly inexperience team, the visitors controlled the opening moments of the game, making it hard for Honduras to settle. Andre Toussaint and Gary Glasgow up front didn’t create much panic in the Honduras penalty box but Theobald’s composure in the middle with support from Baptiste, Silvio Spann and Romauld Aguillera  saw T&T stroking the ball around and keeping the home side at bay.

As the game approached the half hour mark, Honduras began to settle and their fans, roughly 12,000 were soon into the game. In the 37^th minute Wilson Palacios had his effort go over from atop the box and then Carlos Pavon had his header from a left side ball crash off the top of the bar. Overall though, T&T held their own and Wim Rijsbergen was a contented man at the break. Much of the first half was played under rain as a heavy downpour with heavy lightning and strong winds preceded the kick off.

A respectable first half showing was put to rest in quick time though as the second half commenced.

The usual burst in attack that the Hondurans are known for was suddenly the order of the match.

A minute into the second half, goalie Jan Michael Williams was called on to make back to back saves and two minutes later he had to pull the ball out from the back of his net.

Amado Guevera collected a loose ball under no pressure from 30 yards out and unleashed a left footer which flew in past the left post beating an outstretched Williams who slipped initially as he moved for the attempted stop.

Two minutes later Honduras, with their tails up, surged forward once more and were awarded a penalty which Emilio Izaguirre converted, hitting to the left corner past Williams who went the correct end.Dwayne Jack was adjudged to have made the foul.

T&T were now with their backs to the wall as the Honduras were quicker to everything and pressed in numbers. And it got worse for Theobald and company when Baptiste was red carded for a second bookable offense in the 61^st minute, a reckless challenge near the right corner flag.

Rijsbergen introduced Dwayne Jack in place of Thomas and Glenton Wolfe replaced Andrei Pacheco as well as Kerry Baptiste came on for Silvio Spann in the 55^th minute.

A few minutes elapsed before Trent Noel came on for Glasgow and Darryl Roberts for Andre Toussaint. Down the stretch Errol McFarlane also replaced Theobald.

On 69 minutes, Williams came up big to prevent a third goal when his one hand save denied Emil Martinez’s powerful left footed effort and the same player followed up on the loose ball only to have his second attempt stopped on the near post by the W Connection custodian.

Honduras lost it at the back in the 80^th minute and the ball came over from the left for Seon Power but his low try didn’t trouble Valecillo on his near post.

Honduras got their third item in the 84^th minute but moments before that, Roberts had to clear after Jairo Martinez skipped past an advancing Williams but couldn’t get enough on the ball to force it over the line.

The third goal arrived when Izaguirre’s left side cross saw Carlos Costly beat Glenton Wolfe to the ball to head home from inside the six yard box.

The T&T team will have return to the pitch for a recovery session on Sunday before departing for Los Angeles on Monday ahead of it’s opening CONCACAF  Gold Cup fixture against El Salvador on June 7. (June 2, 2007.Photo shows Thomas ready to pounce on rebound and put T&T ahead/S Fuentes)

T&T: - Jan Michael Williams, Sean Powers, Anthony Noreiga, Keyeno Thomas (Dwayne Jack 57th), Romauld Aguillera, Christian Baptiste, Andrei Pacheco (Glenton Wolfe,57th), Silvio Spann (Kerry Baptiste, 57th), Densill Theobald (capt) (Errol McFarlane, 81st), Gary Glasgow (Trent Noel,66th), Andre Toussaint (Darryl Roberts, 66th).

Honduras: - Orlin Vallecillo, Sergio Mendoza, Eric Vallecillo, Emilio Izaguirre, Oscar García, Mario Rodríguez, Wilson Palacios, Iván Guerrero, Amado Guevara (capt), Emil Martínez, Carlos Pavón.