54
« on: October 13, 2005, 10:00:39 PM »
Trinidad Express
IT felt like the greatest day of our lives, Leo Beenhakker looked to be the best coach in the world and maligned striker Stern John became the fans' darling for the umpteenth time.
Trinidad and Tobago have not qualified for the 2006 World Cup, but don't tell that to those who were dancing in the streets outside the Hasely Crawford Stadium following the Warriors' 2-1 victory over Mexico on Wednesday night in their final CONCACAF World Cup qualifier.
The T&T national squad brought their A-game for the clash with the Mexicans to become the first Trinidad and Tobago senior team to actually qualify out of a CONCACAF competition.
But to get to the World Cup, the Warriors next engage Asian Zone fifth-place team Bahrain. They play the first of the two-match series in Trinidad on Saturday November 12, before meeting a second time in Bahrain on Wednesday November 16.
Wednesday October 12, though, was a big day for Trinidad and Tobago football and there were obvious signs that striker John was also returning to something like his best. Never mind the goals he scored, but John's confidence must be lifted to even try that tremendous 65th minute half-volley which brought out an acrobatic save from Jose Corona in the Mexican goal.
As a mark of respect, both men congratulated each other, John respecting the athletic stop and Corona likewise acknowledging John's effort.
The sold-out crowd of 24,000 was also treated to a typical piece of finishing from John, which gave T&T the winning goal in the 61st minute.
Picking up a rebound off Aurtis Whitley, John hardly hesitated and pounded the ball left-footed high into the Mexican net.
That is what Trinidad and Tobago fans have come to expect from the Derby County marksman, but have seen little of lately, for although he scored in earlier qualifiers against Guatemala, Panama, and now Mexico, clinical efficien-
cy is the one part of the game that had previously deserted him.
Still, he showed tremendous character to bounce back after missing a penalty in the 31st minute.
There was no hesitation on his part in taking the kick, having been pulled down in the penalty area, after bringing down a Russell Latapy corner-kick.
But the Mexican keeper made the right guess, diving to his left and stopping the shot.
To his credit, John did not fold tamely, but put in a tremendous work-rate up front. Many times the lone forward, John was the perfect point man, taking the knocks and laying off the ball for the midfielders.
He was also unlucky when flicking the ball to goal after an overlapping run from stopper Marvin Andrews, then seeing it slide off defender Hugo Huiqui and then the post, denying the T&T striker his hat-trick.
But, the Warriors' success was not about Stern John alone.
It turned out to be one of the most complete performances by a Trinidad and Tobago national football team.
The victory also broke a long winning streak by Mexico against Caribbean teams which dates back to July, 2000, when Latapy's goal gave T&T a 1-0 triumph in Port of Spain. Beenhakker also must now have finally filled the left midfield position after Aurtis Whitley's performance.
Local fans had been screaming for the San Juan Jabloteh frontman to have a more attacking role than the defensive midfield position in which he had been played by Beenhakker.
Whitley customarily drifts to the left when playing for Jabloteh before cutting in-field. And, it was his trademark play which caught the Mexicans by surprise in the 42nd minute and led to the T&T equaliser.
Earlier, striker Jaime Lozano had given the Mexicans a 38th minute lead when chipping Kelvin Jack at the far post after collecting the ball on the left flank from a quick counter-attack.
But four minutes later, Whitley drove down the left, cut in a bit and hit a hard grounder off the base of the Mexican upright and the ball rebounded straight at the feet of John, who hit the ball in as he tumbled over to level the match at a goal apiece.
Whitley also had a part in setting up Trini-dad and Tobago's winning goal.
Driving at the Mexican goal, he lost the ball after a heavy tackle, but it inadvertently fell to John, who struck the ball powerfully with his left foot.
Other Warriors had excellent performances as well.
There was the guile of Latapy, who not only terrorised the Mexican defenders, but also used all of his experience to kill off the game near the end.
Chris Birchall and captain Dwight Yorke did much of the donkey work in midfield, while Carlos Edwards showed a remarkable return to form.
Edwards was a constant threat on the flanks, where he twisted and turned around his marker at will. At one point, Edwards almost broke the back of experienced defender Joel Huiqui with a dribble.
But, the Warriors were not only about attacking.
Stoppers Marvin Andrews and Dennis Lawrence came up with very timely interceptions; Cyd Gray did a tremendous job at the right back position; and Avery John also held his corner.
The whole team really came good against powerhouse Mexico, a repeat of which next month will surely land them a place in the 2006 World Cup.
T&T ride Mexican wave
There were just 12 minutes left in Wednesday's CONCACAF World Cup qualifier between Mexico and hosts Trinidad and Tobago when the local fans began singing a sweet, familiar refrain.
"T&T, we want a goal "
The chant showed no trace of the desperation felt when chasing a result. It was closer to a taunt.
Trinidad and Tobago were as good as in the World Cup Playoff race and the fans knew it.
The final whistle, which confirmed a 2-1 win for T&T, did not spark scenes of celebration. The Hasely Crawford Stadium began celebrating from the moment Stern John rammed home their second goal in the 61st minute.
Referee Jose Fernandez's final gesture only meant that dancing, singing fans could now turn their attention from the field to each other. And, if most of the ladies present paid for their red outfits by the yard, Jimmy Aboud's fabric store did not make as much money as they may have hoped.
It was Carnival in October and the Hasely Crawford Stadium embodied the beauty, charisma and energy of Trinidad and Tobago.
Surely, it could not be prelude to a disaster. Not again.
After all, Trinidad and Tobago had only to beat the fifth-ranked team in the world-Mexico are 51 places higher than T&T in the FIFA ranking-to guarantee their place in the Playoffs.
Mexico, mind you, lost just twice in competitive meetings to T&T in a 40-year stretch. Suckeye.
Then came the game's first potential turning point.
Half-hour into the affair, John was dragged to the ground inside the Mexican penalty area and dusted himself off to take the resultant spot kick.
Mexico goalkeeper Jose Corona got both hands to John's penalty kick and held on comfortably.
The misfortune should have been anyone's on the field but John. In recent months, the Derby County striker paid for Trinidad and Tobago's blunt presence in front the opposing goal, although it is coach Leo Beenhakker, not John, who opted for a conservative 4-5-1 system.
Now would John, who scored the decisive goal in Panama last weekend, stall on the road to perdition?
Frustrated supporters looked at each other and bit their tongue. It was as good as he could hope for. And did John ever repay their faith.
But it got worse before it got better.
Eight minutes after John's gaffe, Mexico took the lead with a sublime finish that seemed to laugh in the face of Trinidad and Tobago's qualifying hopes.
It is not just the technique and audacity of Mexican flanker Jaime Lozano to chip goalkeeper Kelvin Jack from inside the T&T penalty area, the ease with which Mexico engineered the chance or the timing of the goal that creased foreheads. It was a combination of the three.
Trinidad and Tobago had been outclassed.
And, sensing the despair of his beautiful people, the Lord-who occasionally does more than re-route hurricanes from Trinidad and Tobago's path-sent a redeeming angel.
Not charming playmaker Russell Latapy or the imperious captain Dwight Yorke, but rather CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Aurtis "Otis Seaton" Whitley.
Whitley's mazy dribble and low spanking drive from 25 yards out ricocheted off the post before being turned in by a diving John.
Perhaps it was a bit much to empower the least of Beenhakker's apostles, as well as T&T's sacrificial lamb in one blur of movement, but there were no critics in red, white and black outfits.
For another twist, popular 36-year-old goalkeeper Shaka Hislop replaced the injured Jack at the resumption for his first appearance under Beenhakker and was quickly forced into a save.
But the glory lay further upfield and, despite plenty of neat one-twos by Yorke and Latapy, it was Whitley and John who most enjoyed the script.
Thirty minutes from time, they offered a crucial encore.
This time, Seaton's charge was blocked by an opponent but the Pro League player reacted quickly to flick the loose ball to John.
He might not the fleetest of foot but John knows better than to fool around at the dinner table.
One touch to turn and the other sent the ball screaming into the top left-hand corner. Corona was lucky just to see it.
Four minutes later, John almost grabbed a hat-trick with a dipping volley on the turn that would have held its own in the most privileged company in the game but for a successful response from the furiously backpedalling Corona.
By then, Mexico had accepted their role as 'also rans' in the show and Trinidad and Tobago fans were crowing.
"T&T, we want a goal!"
"Ole, ole, ole, ole!"
On the crest of a Mexican wave, Trinidad and Tobago cruised into a two-legged Playoff for a World Cup berth.
"Keep the faith," said Yorke, in the post-match interview. "We know we are heading in the right direction."
There was much to be said for the power of belief on Wednesday.
Bring on Bahrain
Trinidad and Tobago national football coach Leo Beenhakker has expressed satisfaction with the "Warriors" performance in their 2-1 triumph over Mexico in their final round CONCACAF World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Wednesday night.
The victory puts T&T in fourth spot in the CONCACAF qualifying standings and the national team now face a home and away playoff next month with the fifth-place Asian Zone country, Bahrain, for a berth at the 2006 World Cup.
And although the Dutchman remained typically composed following his team's latest win against the top CONCACAF team, Beenhakker was notably much happier with the Warriors' performance on the night.
"You also saw the game, no?" Beenhakker told the media following the match. "I think everyone can be happy with it. We played against one of the best teams of the world. And they still are. And I think it was in our possibilities. We played a great match, especially first half. First half hour we didn't give a chance to them. And we had the whole match in our hands.
"It was a difficult moment when Stern (John) missed the penalty, but after that the team again played with a lot of courage, and I think at the end we beat a great team, a great opponent, and we deserved the victory."
The T&T coach also revealed that now that this part of the journey is over, he and the rest of his staff already have their sights set on Bahrain.
"What can I say? I know we have two more games to play," Beenhakker said. "Yeah, well, first I think we have the right to be happy about this victory and we know that Bahrain is our next opponent, and from tomorrow morning we will start thinking about it.
"At least we have one of the coaches over there from Holland," the T&T coach continued, "and he saw both matches, so in that way we are very well prepared. We know who Bahrain is and we know who the players are. We will get information about all that, so from tomorrow we will start thinking about it.
"We have a few weeks and, as you know, everybody will go to his club tomorrow morning and I will see the guys again four days before the next match. So that's the situation we are in."
T&T captain Dwight Yorke was also elated with the victory, but although he felt the public should celebrate, he warned that the team still has some way to go to qualify.
"There's no question that this was a fantastic result for us," the Sydney FC striker remarked. "We set out pretty much to score an early goal, and again this is a fantastic result and everyone should be happy because we know that the job is not complete yet.
"We put ourselves in a fantastic position," Yorke added, "and by completing the job tonight, we have a couple of games ahead of us and again I keep saying let's not get ahead of our time. But we should enjoy the occasion which is a special occasion for everybody."
T&T striker Stern John, who scored both goals to lift the Warriors to victory, acknowledged he has now surpassed Steve David's World Cup qualifying goalscoring record (16 goals) for the national team with 18, but said the most important goal right now is qualifying.
"It's always good to score goals," John added. "I did not really set out to break his record, it's just good to score today and get the victory for the team. I think along the way if I break records and stuff it's an added bonus, but the main thing is to qualify for the World Cup.
"That's just a notch under my belt, but that's not really the important thing right now. That's a personal thing, but football is a team game. And I'm very happy for the victory today."
And Yorke had a message for all the fans who supported the Warriors on Wednesday.
"The message from me and the message from the players is that 'keep the faith'. We're headed in the right direction, but again let's not get ahead of ourselves. We know that there's two games remaining. Tonight is a fantastic result and quite rightly so.
"Everybody should enjoy it and enjoy the occasion, but then back to the drawing board in less than a month's time, and then see where we go from there," Yorke concluded.
Show Posts