A double strike by John Nusum earned Bermuda a shock 2-1 victory over an ineffective Soca Warriors in this country’s opening CONCACAF zone World Cup 2010 qualifier at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna, yesterday.
The Soca Warriors looked far from the unit that drew 1-1 with the Jamaica Reggae Boyz at the same venue a week ago and the only bright spark was Stern John’s equalising goal which tied with Germany’s Gerd Muller for sixth on the all-time World Cup goal-scoring list.
His goal which came in the 22nd minute was his 68th in World Cup action in his 101st appearance. But it could not help the Soca Warriors from a disappointing defeat, on a night when a large crowd including a rhythm section supporting all the way could not lift them.
John was guilty of numerous missed chances, especially a simple one in the 89th minute which would have levelled the score. Lanky defender Dennis Lawrence joined the attack and headed down a ball into unmarked John’s path well inside the six-yard box and with only Bermuda goalkeeper Timmy Figuerido to beat, he shot wide.
John missed several other chances which, had he taken them, could well have seen him net a hat-trick. As early as the 7th minute, Nusum stunned the partisan crowd when he was found unmarked by Khano Smith who eluded defender Kareem Smith on the left flank and sent a perfect centre for him to easily steer the ball into the net.
The Bermudan celebrations were almost cut short as Aurtis Whitley’s long pass found John, but he hit a weak shot straight into the arms of Figuerido. But the Southampton striker was to make amends with his equalising goal when another Whitley pass bounced favourably for him in the area and he beat the advancing keeper with a right foot shot.
Only moments later John again was found free in the Bermuda area with a Carlos Edwards centre, only to bang his shot wide of the mark. Just when the Soca Warriors seemed to be putting their game together came the second Bermuda goal in somewhat controversial fashion.
Soca Warriors goalkeeper Clayton Ince in attempting to take high a high ball from Bermuda’s Damon Ming in the 39th minute, fell awkwardly and as he lay injured on the artificial turf, referee Cordero Quesada allowed play to go on and the ball rolled to Nusum who slotted into an unguarded net. Trailing 2-1 at the half time interval, the Soca Warriors mounted a series of attacks on the Bermuda goal in search of the elusive equaliser.
And in the 48th minute striker Jason Scotland turned and twisted away from his marker on the left flank, but shot wide from an acute angle when John was wide open in the centre of the goal.
Then moments later Osei Telesford saw his powerful shot whiz past the Bermuda goal with the keeper beaten. But the best chance fell to John with only a minute to go on the clock in regulation time, but to the despair of the partisan fans, he missed palpably.
Teams:
Trinidad & Tobago: - 1.Clayton Ince, 13.Kareem Smith, 6.Dennis Lawrence, 4.Makan Hislop, 5.Osei Telesford (16.Stephan David 76th), 7.Carlos Edwards, 8.Khaleem Hyland (3.Ancil Farrier 46th), 9.Aurtis Whitley (capt), 17.Keon Daniel, 14.Stern John, 12.Jason Scotland
Bermuda: - 1.Timmy Figureido, 5.Kofi Dill, 3.Kevin Richards, 2.Antonio Lowe, 7.Damon Ming (11.Reginald Thompsob-Lambe 82nd), 6.Meshach Wade, 8.Omar Shakir (capt), 17.Kwame Steede, 16.John Nusum (12.Ralph Bean 80th), 18.Khano Smith, 10.Keishen Bean (15.Kristofer Frick 82nd)