Article
WC Playoffs: Trinidad soar to Germany with win at Bahrain
MANAMA, Nov 16 (SW) - Trinidad & Tobago secured their first-ever World Cup finals berth on Wednesday, defeating Bahrain 1-0 in Manama and 2-1 on aggregate.
In the 49th minute, Dwight Yorke's inswinging corner kick found an unmarked Dennis Lawrence in the area and the defender headed powerfully inside Hassan Ali's left-hand post to give the Soca Warriors the lead.
Two minutes in, Stern John got Trinidad off to an attacking start when he headed an effort at goal, but his shot went wide of the post and the Caribbeans, who were desperately needing a goal, were still left searching.
Later in the first half, a shot found the target when Bahrain's Adnan Sayed took a crack at goal from distance, forcing goalkeeper Kelvin Jack to leap for the save.
Just 12 minutes in, first leg hero Chris Birchall was injured in a challenge by Jalal Sayed and he had to come off just ten minutes afterwards.
With the match goalless at the break, the islanders decided to do something about it and Lawrence did well to get in alone in the area and beautifully placed his header off Yorke's corner into the net.
With ten minutes to play and Bahrain demoralized, Russell Latapy nearly put the game away, but his effort came crashing back off the crossbar, giving the home side some hope.
About three minutes into stoppage time, Trinidad goalkeeper Jack dropped the ball before punting in downfield, but once he dropped it, Ahmed Hassan stuck his foot in tipped it over the goalkeeper and then put it in the net, but Colombian referee Oscar Julian Ruiz blew the whistle on Hassan for dangerous play.
In the ensuing madness and anger, Husain Ali was sent off after he physically and verbally confronted the referee. Some members of the Bahrain coaching staff had to invade the pitch to keep the players away from the referee.
Shortly after, the final whistle blew and the visitors celebrated with Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker as they reached the finals for the first time ever, putting the ghosts of the 1989 qualifying campaign behind them.
Comments (0)