Last-minute starter comes through in goal Associated Press Posted: 1 hour ago  Â
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5683318 DORTMUND, Germany (AP) -
Coach Leo Beenhakker walked up to Shaka Hislop shortly before the start of the game and delivered the news. Starting goalkeeper Kelvin Jack was out with an injured calf, giving Hislop the start in Trinidad and Tobago's first World Cup game ever.
"I just said, 'You're on.' And he said, "I'm ready,"' Beenhakker said.
Hislop, age 36, stopped every chance Sweden threw at him, helping his underdog team earn a surprising 0-0 draw Saturday night."It has been a boyhood dream come true. I don't know how to put it into words," Hislop said. "I got the word just before the game. It worked out quite well actually. Sometimes it's easier that way."
Jack was slated to start the game until he re-injured his calf, which has bothered him leading up to the start of the tournament.
But the Soca Warriors were lucky to have an experienced backup like Hislop, the only Trinidad player currently in one of Europe's top leagues. Hislop was in goal last month for West Ham when it lost the FA Cup final on penalties to Liverpool.
Hislop rejoined West Ham a year ago and started the season as backup. However, an injury to first-choice Roy Carroll gave Hislop his chance and he was a key player in the team's surprise run to the FA Cup final and ninth place in the Premier League.
"He was brilliant really," midfielder Chris Birchall said. "Shaka came in and did an unbelievable job. You can see why he's a Premiership 'keeper. He was fantastic. He came up with two or three brilliant saves."
Hislop came through with two key saves late in the first half, deflecting a 25-yard shot from Christian Wilhelmsson over the crossbar in the 40th minute and making a diving stop off a half-volley from Zaltan Ibrahimovic about two minutes later.
With Trinidad down a man for almost the entire second half after Avery John was sent off in the 46th minute for his second yellow card, Hislop came through again.
He made a great reflex save from Ibrahimovic from in front of the net and then a sliding stop against Marcus Allback in the 80th minute that left the Swedes totally frustrated.
"We had so many scoring chances, I don't remember if we've had so many in another game," Ibrahimovic said. "But their goalkeeper was fantastic, and he was their backup. He did a great job."
