Jack, Jones rescue T&T
11 May 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com
Keeper Kelvin Jack put in a stunning display and Southampton striker Kenwyne Jones scored a fine free kick on Wednesday night in Port of Spain to secure a 1-1 draw for Trinidad & Tobago in a friendly against Peru. On a special night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the Trinidadian capital Port of Spain, billed as the domestic farewell to 38-year-old fan favourite Russell Latapy, it was the Peruvians that came out far the brighter of the two sides. With the home team – set to make their FIFA World Cup debut this summer – looking lethargic in the first half, a bit of wonderful approach work from Wilmer Aguirre sent Gustavo Vasallo clean in goal in the 32nd minute. The sneaky bit of service eluded both goalkeeper Kelvin Jack and centre back Cyd Gray, leaving Vasallo with surely the simplest tap-in of his international career. The scoreline could have been far worse for the home side at the interval were it not for three min-boggling, point-blank saves by the towering Jack on Aguirre before the whistle went. Though occasionally inconsistent, the big man’s performance will have many feeling he should be the nation’s number-one in Germany over West Ham’s Shaka Hislop. Despite being under the cosh for large parts of the game, the Soca Warriors began to find their rhythm in the second half. And five minutes after Latapy was withdrawn to a standing and rousing ovation from the 20,000 fans in attendance, Jones doubled the tearful crowd’s pleasure with a stunning 75th equaliser. After Collin Samuel was brought down from behind, the Southampton man stepped up to unleash a stunning drive from distance that sent the fans into further hysterics. Despite the fact Jack was the only difference between a draw and a lopsided defeat, coach Leo Beenhakker can look to the result as a positive one heading into their one-week training camp in Manchester, in the North of England set to begin on 11 May. Ranger’s big centre back Marvin Andrews and LA Galaxy’s Cornell Glen both missed the Peru clash with injuries and the veteran Dutch boss will be keen to have them both back in action for the next friendly test, against Wales on 27 May. Caribbean islanders T&T are the smallest nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup finals and will have their work cut out in Germany 2006’s Group B alongside England, Sweden and Paraguay in their debut appearance at the finals this June.
