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Trinidad and Tobago’s senior footballers will not have the luxury of going into their final semi-final round 2006 World Cup qualifier against St Vincent and the Grenadines with the impression that they will have to be defeated by eight clear goals.


Currently on the standings, T&T is in second spot with nine points to Mexico (12) with St Vincent right behind on six points. T&T has scored 10 goals with eight against meaning that they posses a plus two difference. St Vincent meantime have scored four and conceded 10, giving them a minus 6 difference. This would normally mean that based on the overall standings, St Vincent would then have to beat T&T by eight clear goals to advance as the second placed team into the final stage.

However, FIFA regulations for the qualifying phase indicates that should two teams end up on same points, then the goal difference between the two teams involved will be used to decide which team progresses. Having beaten St Vincent 2-0 in the first encounter, it now means that “Vincy Heat” can knock T&T out if they win by three clear goals in Port of Spain on November 17. Anything less than a three goal margin victory, say for instance a win by two goals, for the visitors will mean - The two teams will be tied on the number of points from matches played between them with three each; they will be tied on goal difference in matches against one another since both won by two goals; they will be tied on goals scored in matches between them; T&T would then win the tie-breaker with a better Goal Difference in all group matches.

The situation could cause some added interest in the match as it now means that both teams have something to vie for and T&T coach Bertille St Clair will be keen to press home the advantage. “I have said all along that no game in this campaign would be an easy one. We have no fears about our passage into the final stage but at the same time we won’t be fooled into taking anything for granted. We have beaten them before in St Vincent and surely whether we need a draw or they have to beat us by eight goals, we will be going into the game with a winning attitude. The road to Germany is far from over, as a matter of fact it has only just begun to take shape for us,” St Clair told TTFF Media.

He has called locally-based players for the resumption of training this Friday at the Larry Gomes Stadium from 9am. Included is former Under 23 striker Kevon Carter as well as his Defence Force teammate Odelle Armostrong. Midfielder Silvio Spann also keeps his place in the squad but will be unavailable for the upcoming weeks having left on the weekend for a trial in the Far-East.

T&T Players called:

Angus Eve, Daurance Williams, Josh Johnson, Keyeno Thomas, Kerry Baptiste, Aurtis Whitley, Nigel Pierre, Michael Celestine, Cyd Gray (San Juan Jabloteh).

Jerren Nixon (North East Stars).

Odelle Armstrong, Addison Belfon, Anton Pierre, Kevon Carter (Defence Force).

Silvio Spann, Atiba Charles, Jan Michael Williams (W Connection).

Derek King, Marlon Rojas, Kevin Graham (Joe Public).

Denzil Theobald, Conrad Smith, Uz Taylor (Arima Morvant Fire).