TIJUANA, Mexico (CMC)

Trinidad & Tobago made a nightmare start to their CONCACAF Under-17 Championship when they were hammered 7-0 by hosts Mexico on Wednesday night.

In the first game of the evening, Guatemala and Costa Rica played to a 1-1 draw to share the points from their encounter. Carlos Campos put Mexico ahead from as early as the fourth minute when he slotted home a loose ball which was not cleared by the Trinidadian defence, and Martin Galvan scored the first goal of his hat-trick from the spot in the 25th minute after Ryan Frederick fouled Luis Telles in the area.

Four minutes later, Victor Manon virtually put the game out of T&T's reach when he headed in Campos' volley, as Mexico took a comfortable 3-0 cushion at the break.

Almost immediately on the resumption, Galvan added a fourth from close range before Telles confirmed the rout with a 52nd-minute penalty. Manon completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute with a brilliant free kick and Salvador Jasso ensured there would be no respite for the Trinidadian with an 83rd-minute strike. Trinidad and Tobago will take on Costa Rica in their next match tomorrow.