Trinidad and Tobago's kept their dreams of qualifying for Korea 2007 with a nail biting 2-1 victory over Canada in their third CONCACAF Final round encounter at the National Stadium, Kingston on Friday evening.
First half goals by midfielder Leston Paul in the 4th minute and striker Stephen Knox in the 38th minute gave T&T the much needed three points but the young "Soca Warriors" were run almost to the ground by the gritty Canadians who pulled a goal back in the 46th minute through Mohamed Sylla. Canada pressed for the equalizer but T&T held firm and almost sealed the game up in the closing 15 minutes creating nervous and exciting moments for the T&T faithful on hand. Goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel blunder had brought Canada back into it when a weak low shot by Mohamed Sylla went straight through him but he fought back with some vital saves in the minutes after that.
T&T coach Anton Corneal said his team knew what they had to do and they did it the hard way. "It was a fight and after we went in front by two goals, we didn't know how to handle it. It was the worst result to be 2-0 up. Canada missed some easy opportunities, but that's the game."
He added: "We came here knowing that we had two games to win and we knew that we had to step up against Canada and now we wait for Jamaica."
Canada's coach, Stephen Hart, says they have nobody to blame but themselves. "The bottom line is if you don't take your chances you won't score. We had several opportunities but that's how it goes. I thought we threw it away and now our destiny is in somebody else's hand and frankly I don't expect too much."
Regardless of the result between USA and Jamaica in Friday's second game, T&T have it all in their hands now as a win on Sunday against Jamaica will book their place in the 2007 FIFA Under 17 World Championship.