T&T celebrates Gold Cup spot after Haitian help
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com)
Thirty-nine years ago, Haiti extinguished the football dreams of one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most gifted generations with a controversial 2-1 World Cup qualifying win in Port-au-Prince.
Tonight, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago players celebrated the same result as a nail-biting 1-0 win for the French Islanders over host nation Antigua and Barbuda ensured that the “Soca Warriors” will return the confederation’s showcase tournament, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, for the first time in seven years.
Earlier at the Antigua Recreation Ground, the Warriors clawed their way to a 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic. But Trinidad and Tobago’s triumph would have been in vain if Haiti and Antigua had played to a draw in the second game of a Caribbean Cup double header at the same venue.
In theory, a draw would have suited both teams as Haiti would have topped the group with Antigua finishing as runner-up. But the French-speaking players had other ideas.
Jean-Phillipe Peguero put the visitors ahead in the 19th minute and Haiti hung on for dear life. Central defender Merschack Jerome was booked for time wasting while Haitian goalkeeper and captain Jhony Placide frustrated his opponents by running the ball into the corners of his penalty box from midway through the second half.
The Trinidad and Tobago camp did not mind their gamesmanship one bit.
“I think that was a huge result for Trinidad and Tobago,” Trinidad and Tobago joint head coach Jamaal Shabazz told Wired868, via a phone interview. “Our players were praying for 90 minutes and now they are dancing and singing. I am happy for (co-head coach) Hutson Charles and Derek (King) and the rest of the staff…
“Haiti did us a huge favour there.”
In truth, the Haitian team had its own score to settle.
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http://www.wired868.co/2012/12/11/tt-celebrates-gold-cup-spot-after-haitian-help/