Dear Forumites,
October 15th 2008, will go down in the archives that TT beat USA 2-1 in a WCQ for the first time. We did not look good, but we got the job done and I am truly grateful that the "blight" has finally been shaken off.
It was more than just three points earned, it was a mental victory, we have shown that we can beat the USA and I hope that this win will inspire better performances against them in the future.
Girl Warrior and I arrived in the woodbrook area around 6:15 pm and parked in the Lady Hochoy home...$20 for piece of mind and we entered through the Fitzblackman drive entrance. I was also armed with a KFC Dinner Special and I got some resistance from a gate attendant saying no boxes and food allowed. I tell him "Boss doh be so, KFC is the national team sponsor" and I managed to come thru with meh 3 piece intact.
In retrospect that is the best entrance to come through...no crowd, no line up and I entered the stadium using a kinda side gate with little or no traffic. The TSTT booth was there, with the hosts asking people questions, Spalk was in the crowd mic in hand trying to get comments. The TSTT girls were handing out thundersticks and some big green BMobile #1 fingers and T shirts.
After having our new electronic ticket scanned, the organizers make you proceed to the right and up the steps...not bad, however all the crowd is herded in one area and people talking, sticking and being confused just creates a small traffic jam at times on the stair case.
Additionally the vendors on the first level have increased...it is now a food court, complete with warmers, soup pots, ring burners, tables etc. However they are placed in the aisle, causing traffic friction. The situation is a bit unbearable nearer the toilet areas and I cannot understand why the existing vending booths were not utilised properly.
Anyway, I managed to get two seats and then I decided to help out swima save a block of seats for some partners who were a bit tardy. Lets just say it is not an easy exercise and people use all kinda technique to squeeze in. I took in the vibes....not much atmosphere..... even though the crowd was building steadily.
Looked at the two warm ups and saw the contrast between the two teams. USA looking very synchronized and professional. TT looking slow, without urgency and sloppy.
The teams went back in the tunnel and it is here I left swima to "handle the scenes" as I returned to my original seat.
It was here, I got the first pain in my waist, a griping bowel feeling, and I started to cuss Pacho. The team line up is announced and the first name....who is given a loud round of applause is Aklie Edwards.
I ent go lie I say dis is shit....Imagine the man who Donovan and dem identify in the last game as the weak link and the man they attack...starting this match. Then he call Spann...I steupsss...look more shit.
Is only then I realise all the names call and the man ent say Avery John. I formulate the formation in meh head and I say this "fawking Corbeaux Brand, this mudder C#$t Afro better know what he doing"
So I call quite USA and talk to injunchile who watching it via espn..he say doh worry have faith we go make it.
I ent go lie, I was real real vex before that game kick off.
Anyway I bend meh head, I say a prayers for the fellas, I say let them do their best and let us come away with the victory.
The WN crew had the flag proudly displayed, I saw Patriot being interviewed by Synergy TV and the US and TT anthems were played by the Woodbrook playboyz. It is funny but this crowd actually sung the anthem loud and clear.
I watch the line up again...I steups and then I say another quick prayer and we were under way.
Bam USA attacks and we scruffling and then...Birchall wins the ball.
We settle we knock it around in the back and then...my fears were realised.
The two "subs"...were the two pullstones....left and right testicle...playing left and right wingback respectively.
I ent go lie the griping feeling take meh again and as Yorke started to give to ball to everyone to get a touch, the long ball to edwards, the flick to scotland, the touch to latapy. Left and right just start to swing and long out people stones in the back.
The testicle with the ras...the hairy one, first touch of the ball, was a back heel kinda flick that was just poor. An errant pass, two mistraps later and giving away throw ins under no pressure, I say why they ent leave he in Wrexham dread! The fella get blow past every time and went to ground only to swipe breeze...but it was beasley and adu doing him dat so I ease him up a lil bit.
The smoother testicle with the number 3 on he back was just shakey right tru. He mistrap, he playing hospital ball, he losing his marker...After 5 minutes the whole crowd calling for him to get sub.
But Ince start to cuss dem...and then the two testicles were given a "jock strap" in the form of Dwight Yorke.
Spann and Edwards....Thank you for bucking up and playing to instructions. Thank you for getting confidence as the game progressed and thank you for your effort on the field. Thank you for listening to your captain and playing to your limitations and I appreciate the efforts shown yesterday....WELL DONE FELLAS!
After 20 minutes the instruction was to pass Yorke the ball...alyuh doh beat, doh try no counter, doh play nuttin down the line, doh over lap, doh support no play,doh even hoof it long...just play it to Yorke and everything go be alright.
After a while a man behind me understood the predicament...and started to cheer and clap each time they passed the ball back to Ince or Yorke. As he say..."Is either backwards or shit"...I rather backwards yes.
Anyways the game continues and TT is actually getting the better of the exchanges. There were some on this forum who stated that Yorke and Birchall were a liability in the midfield but this pairing was absolutely PERFECT. Birchall was simply the Man of the Match hands down with his excellent ball winning ability. Covering the space, shutting down channels, putting in the tackles and running back after losing the ball and defending for dear life. Every mistake made by a team mate was cleaned up and corrected by him.
Scotland gets off a near post shot, save by the keeper. Cross by Carlos nobody there, flicks by Latapy, intercepted and so it went. Keon Daniel and Aklie Edwards were having a woeful time on the flank and the defending there was poor. Daniel however showed he was a threat going forward but with no support up top, nuttin behind supporting either he was continuously forced to screen and beat 2-3 men and cut inside.
TT's best chance came after a corner was scrambled and the loose ball was gathered up by the keeper. The next best chance came from another corner and Keyno thomas in the 18 blazed his shot overbar.
Sometime in between we have a corner and we down to 10 men...lawrence off the field changing his boots and we at a loss as to what to do.
Then the announcer says...Cuba 1, Guatemala nil...So I jump up and start to clap and ting...people watching me like I ahow. I sit down and say to mehself...these 4king waggonists jest ent have a clue yes.
Then i get the griping pain again...thomas down and off for treatment...I see hislop warming up and I say oh gosh...look pressure.
All the while I just saying in my head come on fellas don't concede...lets get thru the first 10...then the next 10 and then the 30 min. Finally we reach half time 0-0 and USA did not have any clear cut opportunities.
We were shakey in the back and there was plenty danger but we were holding firm
I say another prayer at the half...I was thank full we didn't concede and then I went downstairs to use the toilet and get some more refreshment.
After coming back upstairs the game was already underway a good 5 minutes and USa was on the attack. I scanned the field for some changes but didn't see any of note. I start to calculate...2 subs left...Latapy ent sure to last whole game...Scotland neither...Where Roberts or Glenn to run at them?
We start to do the wave, people start to clap and then we remained silent looking on at the action.
All the while Edwards and Spann leaving their marker wide and USA looking better on the flanks...more crosses started coming in. The USA start to play one two and dummy and knock. But Birchall and Yorke remaining steady in the middle.
Then the goal came....started by none other than Birchall...who wins a crunching tackle, breaks up a play and surges forward, he passes to Carlos who plays it far post. latapy collects and then I just see the ball bounce and reach in the net.
UTTER PANDEMONIUM IN THE STADIUM....GOALLLLLLLLLLL
Hear nah, what a joy and feeling that was. I couldn't believe it...out of nothing we score and I look at the clock.ABout 30minutes left and I say to mehself I taking that 1-0. Lewwe holdout.
But then the inner voice of reality start to talk to meh..."Dem fellas does just know how to 4k up a good ting."
I ent know if that thought I had transmitted unto the field...but right after that Spann jockeying the USA winger. He goes to ground and makes good contact..all ball...I say yes nice tackle and then while on the ground he puts up his hand and ball playing on. The fwd gorn and he still on the ground appealing, Hislop try to track back, lawrence in space and the cross comes and somebody tap it in past Ince.
Silence and Shock in the stadium, but I calm...I expected it, the signs were there...I see 20 min to go...I tell mehself...I taking that 1-1 yes. But if Pacho make the right sub we could score...we have enough time, this USA side ent saying nuttin.
I say another prayer.
Then a funny thing happened...yes...we actually rallied behind our team and started the warrior chant. We clapped and encouraged the team and we started the attack. birchall driving fwd, everybody saying shoot. Edwards beating on the line with no support. Some long balls to Scotland.
Then all of a sudden corner, confusion....PENALTY!!!!!!!
Well the crowd start to jump up, cameramen running by the goal post and I just say to mehself...THIS IS IT.
I tell mehself...yorke will slot it center.
So said so done...and it was bachannal in the stadium again.
I cyar remember it was about 10 min left. But I say another prayer for the fellas to hold on.
Then USA start to run at us again, start all kinda knock and we start to panic. Daniel want to beat in the back and loss the ball, Hislop Miskicking, Edwards tackling wild....then there was the heart attack moment with a few minutes left...I see a cross ball come in and a header went goalwards....the stadium went silent and I swear the ball roll in the net.
Meh chest start to hurt but...I see Ince cussin and the ball WIDE!!!!
Phew.
So Hyland come on for Latas and I find he ent do nuttin really, and I only looking at the clock.
Then Carlos takes the ballin the corner and wastes time. Ince wasting time, Yorke playing possession...den at the 90 the 4th offical sign saying 3 minutes.
The announcer bawl 2 minutes...and then he say Cuba 2, Guatemala nil....more noise and we jumping up.
Then he come back Cuba 2, Guatemala 1.
Then I only watching clock....As we hoof it out the back I watch the clock and the ref.
then TWEEET TWEEET and the signal and we start to jam.
I then said my last and final prayer...Thank You!
DJ start to crank tunes, everybody jump up, we start to hug up and the victory was ours....it was even sweeter knowing Guatemala get licks from CUba.
Well the jamming start and everybody start to wine in the stadium.
I hug up everybody, all the forumites I see, It was great.
Then the USA team and the TT team just ran into the tunnel and that was that.
I was expecting the fellas to do a lap of honour or at least give us a wave but small ting.
3 Points and our foot is in the door towards the Hex.
It was not the best display by the warriors, but we got the job done. I still have to big up Spann and Edwards for playing their role, Carlos for stepping up especially in the second half where he made a defensive run to dispossess a TT player. Latas for the Goal, Yorke for the goal...in fact the entire team...but a special thank you goes out to Me Mum......That is a Warrior!
Time to put the icing on the cake.
See you on the 19th!