Things were looking up when returning forward Reon Moore flexed his muscles after opening the scoring in the 52nd minute. However, Trinidad and Tobago's men's national football team had a rough first outing in the Fifa Series, falling 4-1 to Venezuela at the Pakhtakor Central Stadium in Uzbekistan today.

The teams went to the half goalless, although TT should have taken the lead in the second minute when midfielder Duane Muckette and captain Levi Garcia combined to win a penalty. Garcia saw his left-footed penalty well saved by goalie Christopher Varela, with Venezuela then going on to dictate most of the first half play.

TT weren't overawed in the first half by any stretch, but Venezuela did threaten to breach their opponents' defence, particularly through the tricky and intricate play of flanker Gleiker Mendoza.

The action picked up quickly in the second half, as Moore swept in a left-footer from close range just seconds after Mendoza curled a 27-yard free kick agonisingly over Denzil Smith's bar. With Garcia operating down the right flank like many TT fans have been crying and pleading for, he beat his marker in the area before Varela parried a cross into the path of Moore, who didn't hesitate with a precise volley.

TT barely had time to celebrate, though, as Venezuela equalised in the 60th minute when Delvin Alfonzo buried a sharp right-footer at the near post after being picked out by an incisive Mendoza through ball. The debutant Alfonzo was at it again seven minutes later, this time rifling into the top corner after Jorge Yriarte beat centre back Justin Garcia and left back Noah Powder with a ball in behind the TT defence.

After his team conceded their second goal, interim coach Derek King made a quadruple change, bringing on Daniel David, Real Gill, Nathaniel James, and Roald Mitchell in the 69th minute. Moore, Muckette, Dantaye Gilbert, and Ryan Telfer were the players who made way. Gill and James had decent cameos, and nearly opened the Venezuela defence with some slick link up down the left in the 80th minute.

However, TT's changes perhaps threw off their communication and defensive assignments, as the South Americans put the game away with a quick brace from veteran forward Salomon Rondon. The 36-year-old easily beat Smith in a one-on-one scenario in the 81st minute after he and fellow substitute Luis Gonzalez combined to beat the TT offside trap. Four minutes later, Rondon had an even simpler task when he tapped past Smith from close quarters after being found with a pass from the left flank.

On March 30, TT will hope for an improved result when they play Gabon in their second and final Fifa Series clash.

TT starting XI (4-2-3-1): 22.Denzil Smith (GK); 8.Rio Cardines, 4.Jerrin Jackie, 17.Justin Garcia, 23.Noah Powder; 18.Andre Rampersad, 15.Dantaye Gilbert; 11.Levi Garcia (captain), 10.Duane Muckette, 7.Ryan Telfer; 13.Reon Moore.