T&T crash to 0-4 defeat against Romania

Bucharest, June 5 (IANS/CMC) Trinidad and Tobago crashed to a four-nil defeat against Romania in a football friendly international ahead of their Gold Cup campaign in the US next month.

A hat trick from striker Ciprian Marica blew away the Soca warriors in front of 10,000 fans at the national arena in Bucharest Tuesday.

Daneil Cyrus had an own goal as the visitors imploded, their first affair on European soil since the 2006 World Cup training camp.

T&T had their moments inside the first half hour but struggled to penetrate the Romanian defence as forward Devorn Jorsling and his attacking partners Darryl Roberts, Kevon Carter and Kevin Molino were kept mostly at bay.

Some disorganisation in the T&T defence in the 31st minute gifted Marica an easy tap in from close range.

Two minutes later, he slapped one low past goalkeeper Marvin Phillips to Leave T&T trailing 2-0 at the break.

A deflected goal by Cyrus in the 50th minute brought more misery for T&T and Marica completed his hat-trick with a headed goal nine minutes from time.

The Soca Warriors play Estonia in another friendly in Tallinn Friday.

T&T have been drawn alongside Honduras, El Salvador and Haiti in Group B of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and will play their opening game at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey against El Salvador July 8.

--IANS/CMC

abr/mr