Plaza double fails to prevent T&T defeat

QINHUANGDAO, China (CMC):

Willis Plaza struck two second-half goals to make a game of it, but Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), went down 4-2 to China here Friday to slump to their third loss in as many international friendlies.

Jiang Ning gave China an early lead within three minutes, and Zhang Yuning then scored on either side of half-time to put the hosts up 3-0 after 64 minutes.

El Salvador-based Plaza turned the game on its head with two strikes to bring T&T within striking distance of a draw, but Hu Rentian killed the game off two minutes from time to secure the result at the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

For the Trinidadians, the defeat was their third in 11 days after losing 4-0 to Peru in Lima on May 24 and 3-1 to Uruguay in Montevideo just days later.

On Friday, China were ahead after just three minutes when Jiang Ning's header from eight yards out eluded the last defender on the line.

Zhang then got the first of his brace just after the half-hour mark with a stooping header as China got to the break ahead 2-0.

The Holland-based 19-year-old had seemingly put the game out of T&T's reach in the 64th minute before Plaza eluded his marker at the back post to bundle home a left-sided corner three minutes later.

And Trinidad were back in the mix in the 86th minute when Sean De Silva collected a through ball down the right, raced away from defenders to the byline before squaring a cross into the box, which Plaza headed home.