sportinglife.comYORKE FIRES TRINIDAD TO VICTORY By Ben Collins, PA Sport, London
Dwight Yorke sent a warning to the England camp with a two-goal performance for Trinidad & Tobago in Tuesday's World Cup warm-up with Iceland at Loftus Road.
The former Manchester United striker, who is set to lead the Soca Warriors against England in Nuremberg on June 15, netted the game's opening goal in the 10th minute and scored a second with a cheeky penalty shortly before being withdrawn in the 59th minute.
The 34-year-old, who could train with United once Sydney FC's season finishes on Sunday, has a licence to roam with the Soca Warriors and dropped back to produce a number of incisive balls for frontman Stern John and the wide midfielders.
One of which was Dundee United's Collin Samuel, who made the opening goal and impressed on the left, while Sven-Goran Eriksson's advisors should also be wary of Port Vale's Chris Birchall.
The Stafford-born midfielder showed again why he was accepted so quickly by the Warrior Nation - the team's passionate supporters - by providing the driving force in the centre of the park.
Kick-off was delayed by almost half an hour due to the late arrival of the Trinidad & Tobago squad.
When play did eventually start, both sides struggled to get going on a bitterly cold evening, but the Caribbean outfit are unlikely to encounter such harsh conditions in Germany this summer.
Stefan Gislason had the game's first shot, saved comfortably by West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, before Yorke's underhit pass to Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence almost allowed Eidur Gudjohnsen a run at goal.
Lawrence then played the ball wide left for Samuel, though, who beat his marker to cross from the byline. Iceland failed to deal with it and the ball fell kindly for Yorke, who was arriving on the edge of the box to chest the ball before lashing it right-footed past former Manchester City keeper Arni Arason.
That roused the Warrior Nation, who were already boisterous despite the freezing conditions, but not the game itself.
The next chance did not come until just after the half-hour mark following an error by Charlton defender Herman Hreidarsson.
Left-back Avery John launched a free-kick into the box and Hreidarsson misjudged his header, leaving Stern John free to bring the ball down just 10 yards out but the Coventry striker lacked composure and fired over the crossbar.
In the 37th minute, Hreidarsson had an opening at the other end, blazing over as he stretched to meet Gudjohnsen's knock-back, and shortly after the Chelsea striker went close himself, curling a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide.
Fulham keeper Tony Warner came on at half-time to make his international debut, as did Swindon's 21-year-old midfielder Ricky Shakes.
Nine minutes after the restart, Stern John was bundled over in the box and Yorke scored with a cheeky chip before being replaced by Russell Latapy.
There were no other moments of note as both coaches used their substitutes, with Leo Beenhakker also bringing on Southampton's Kenwyne Jones for Stern John.
