The Martiniquans did so by scoring a shock 2-1 win over defending champion Trinidad and Tobago in the second match of a Group A double-header at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

Earlier, Jamaica paid the penalty for not defeating Barbados by a wider margin coming away with only a 2-1 victory.
After the final round of matches in the four-team contest, the Soca Warriors, Martinique and the Reggae Boyz all finished with six points.

Goal difference had to decide the outcome and T&T and Martinique advance with plus six and plus two respectively ahead of the Jamaicans, who had plus one.

Going into the match against Martinique already assured of topping the group, coach Ian Porterfield opted to rest key players Arnold Dwarika, Angus Eve, Lyndon Andrews and Dale Saunders.

In addition he was without the services of main striker Stern John, who was one out the match having picked up two yellow cards in previous matches against Barbados (5-0) and Jamaica (2-1), and over-lapping wing back Ancil Elcock, who rushed back to the USA to play for Columbus Crew.

With six players absent, forward Trent Noel made his international debut and Anton Pierre, Gary Glasgow and Carlos Edwards were introduced in the starting line-up for the first time in the tournament.

The Marvin Andrews' new-look unit found themselves trailing after eight minutes when unmarked Rudolphe Rano beat goalkeeper Clayton Ince from six yards out.

On a counter attack, the Martiniquans found the T & T defence too low and skipper Andrews, the central defender, was left with the task of trying to mark two forwards, one of whom was Rano.

The Soca Warriors levelled the scores in the 29th minute when a left side free kick by Avery John was headed home by lanky defender Dennis Lawrence, who was scoring his first goal at international level.

After rescuing T&T twice before the interval with spectacular saves, Ince had a quiet period on the resumption until the 79th minute when he misjudged a shot from creative midfielder, Patrick Percin and allowed the ball to slip through his hands and into the net.

Percin, who was causing all sorts of worry to the local midfield and defence, ran into an open area and slapped a 30-yard right footer that Ince appeared to have covered the chest-high ball flying through his hands.

In the post-match interview, coach Porterfield, in defending his tacticts to rest some of his key players, said, "we knew we had topped the group so we wanted to give some of the younger players an opportunity to play."

"We need to keep developing and improving the players because we need to think about tomorrow," he added. "It cost us a victory but I can assure you that it won't happen in the big games." Jamaican coach, Brazilian Clovis de Oliviere had been complaining that his team was not scoring goals and Saturday was no different against a determined Bajan side.

As a matter of fact, it was the Reggae Boyz that had to hang of for dear life in the second half in which Barbados completely outplayed the 1998 World Cup finalist.

The two semi-finalists from Group "B" were decided last night. The three teams battling for those positions were Haiti, Cuba and Suriname. Today will be a rest day with the "semis" scheduled for tomorrow at the National Stadium. T&T will be playing the opening match at 5 pm.

Saturday's teams:

T & T: Clayton Ince, Marvin Andrews, Reynold Carrington, Avery John, Dennis Lawrence, Anton Pierre, Carlos Edwards, Brent Rahim, Gary Glasgow, Nigel Pierre, Trent Noel. SUBS: Mickey Trotman for Glasgow 55th; Lyndon Andrews for Noel 73rd.

MARTINIQUE: Eddy Heurlie, Laurent Lagrand, Ludovic Clement, Patrick Percin, Paul-Herri Clorus, Jean-Marie Agathine, Ludovic Mirande, Serge Chillan, Pascal Lina, Xavier Bullet, Rodolphe Rano.
SUBS: Daniel Borval for Rano; Loic Lupon for Bullet 72nd; Judes Vaton for Percin 81st.