Trinidad and Tobago progressed to the CONCACAF finals of World Cup qualifying by beating Cuba 3-0 on Wednesday.
The Soca Warriors joined Mexico, Honduras, USA (2-0 winners over Guatemala), El Salvador and Costa Rica in the hexagonal stage which begins on February 11. The draw for that round takes place in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Trinidad's Colombian-born coach Francisco Maturana said he was satisfied with achieving the objective of qualifying for the next phase.
In highlighting Jones as "a rock," Maturana said his potential was still untapped, Associated Press reported
"I believe Kenwyne Jones has the capacity to be one of the best forwards in the world," Maturana said. "He is a rock, and it's been a few years he's been like that."
On a heavy pitch soaked by two days of torrential rain, Trinidad almost scored after two minutes when Cuba defender Jenier Molina slipped and gifted possession to Russell Latapy, but the 40-year-old dragged his shot wide.
Cuba could have scored in the 24th when a fierce Mario Leonard drive beat goalkeeper Clayton Ince only to hit the inside of the post. Roberto Balmaseda failed to convert the rebound.
Trinidad began to look nervous as numerous chances were wasted but Yorke put Jones through one-on-one with Cuba goalkeeper Danis Quintero Chevans in the 67th and he slotted the ball beneath Chevans.
Moments later Jones returned the favor when he fed Yorke inside the penalty area and the Trinidad skipper made no mistake, drifting past a defender before driving a low right-foot shot beyond Chevans.
With a minute to go, Carlos Edwards charged down the right flank before cutting the ball back to the top of the box, from where Daniel calmly side-footed a shot into the roof of the net.
"It was significant that we had this result tonight because even though people felt this was going to be an easy game we didn't play particularly great in the first half," Yorke said.
There was some tough talking at halftime, he added.
"We got in at 0-0 but things could have gone the other way and we recognized that. Some harsh words were said and full credit to the players because they stepped up to the plate (in the second half)."
Trinidad & Tobago: - 1.Clayton Ince, 3.Aklie Edwards, 5.Keyeno Thomas, 6.Dennis Lawrence, 7.Christopher Birchall (Khaleem Hyland 81st), 8.Cyd Gray, 9.Keon Daniel, 10.Russell Latapy (14.Stern John 73rd), 11.Carlos Edwards, 15.Kenwyne Jones (12.Jason Scotland 79th), 17.Dwight Yorke (capt).
Subs Not Used: 18.Anthony Warner (GK), 13.Josh Johnson, 2.Clyde Leon.
Cuba: - 1.Danis Quintero Chevans, 2.Silvio Minoso (capt), 3.Jenier Molina, 4.Hnier Cantillo, 6.Joel Valencia (14.Juan Gonzalez 84th), 7.Lazaro Pratt, 8.Alianni Montaya, 9.Luis Ramirez, 10.Roberto Balmaseda (11.Jensee Sallez 81st), 16.Reisandry Cervantes, Mario Leonard (Evier Gonzalez 76th).
Warriors advance.
By: Gregory Trujillo (Guardian).
T&T Soca Warriors are into the final round of qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In aiming to make the world’s biggest football event for the second straight occasion, the Soca Wariors defeated Cuba 3-0 last night at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, with goals coming from Sunderland duo Kenwyne Jones and Dwight Yorke and local-based Keon Daniel.
The Soca Warriors won the first two corners of the match, both crosses were handled by the visitors’ defence.
With the Cubans not afraid to take shots, they were unlucky not to forge ahead in the 24th minute when a pile-driver by Pratt hit the upright.
In the 43rd minute, a good combination featuring Yorke, Latapy and Jones ended with Latapy volleying overbar.
T&T had a number of chances soon after the break with the first real chance falling to Edwards on the hour mark. But his cracking shot smashed against the crossbar.
The floodgates were opened for T&T in the 67th when Sunderland teammates Yorke and Jones combined to give the home team the important lead.
Defender Thomas broke up a Cuban attack, played the ball to Yorke in midfield. The skipper in turn put Jones through and the striker chipped over the head of advancing Quintros.
Two minutes later, Jones returned the favour for Yorke, who beat a defender and then Quintros to score.
Daniel sealed the issue when he notched his fourth goal in the tournament. With a cool head, the Petrotrin forward neatly placed a roofer past Quintros in the 89th.
T&T will now join the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador in the six-team final round home and away series—the draw for which will be made on the 23rd.
Soca Warriors into CONCACAF final round.
By: Ian Prescott (T&T Express).
DREAM LIVES ON
The significance of a slender but crushing defeat to the United States on November 19, 1989, was not lost on the big crowd as Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors struggled to break down a spirited Cuban team on Wednesday night in their 2010 World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Local fans were just as curious about the score in the other Group One match between Guatemala and the United States. Had Guatemala won, and Cuba beaten T&T, then the Central Americans would have qualified for CONCACAF'S Final Round of 2010 World Cup qualifying.
So, when it was announced the Americans had taken the lead early in the second half , a great roar sounded within the stadium.
The home team survived an edgy, goalless first half, in which Cuban Larazo Pratt struck the far upright with a tremendous shot from 25 metres, before goals from Kenwyne Jones (67th), captain Dwight Yorke (69th) and a gem by left-footer Keon Daniel (89th) gave T&T a 3-0 victory.
Trinidad and Tobago have now qualified for the Final Round, scheduled to begin on February 11, 2009.
Afterwards, skipper Yorke said the game was much harder than people in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean had anticipated it would be.
"It was significant that we had this result tonight," said Yorke. "First half we didn't play that great... And all credit to the players...we realised that we needed to step up to the plate second half and I felt that the team did that. They showed a lot of character and determination to make sure that we got the result."
For the first two-thirds of the match, Cuba gave as good as they got.
The first half ended goalless, but not before Pratt took aim from long range in the 24th minute and saw his shot bounce off the post with T&T keeper Clayton Ince well beaten.
Luis Ramirez (9), the Cuban left-winger, also tormented Cyd Gray on the right flank and kept Ince busy a couple times.
It was a half which could have gone either way.
For Trinidad and Tobago, veteran playmaker Russell Latapy could have scored after just two minutes, benefitting from a defender's slip, but drilling a low shot just wide.
Sunderland FC striker Jones, playing for T&T for the first time since injuring himself against England on June 1, combined well a couple times with Latapy, but could not finish.
And Jones also got too much over Carlos Edwards' cross in the 26th minute and headed down into the turf, with the brilliant Cuban keeper Danis Quintero Chevans well beaten.
Yorke confessed that there were harsh words said in the dressing room at the half, including a critique of his own performance. As a result, they were real Warriors in the second half.
Carlos Edwards put in tremendous work, constantly driving up the left flank, but had few options to pass to.
Meanwhile, Jones twice had the Cuban keeper in his sights, but failed to get past Chevans.
Later, Edwards' 30-metre drive and Chris Birchall's low shot both struck the woodwork. And Yorke also turned Birchall's rebound wide from point-blank range.
It was looking like it would not be the Soca Warriors' night, until the 67th minute when Jones finally got the breakthrough.
Taking Yorke's straight pass down the centre of the Cuban defence, Jones made no mistake, stroking the ball low past the keeper to give T&T a 1-0 lead.
And it was double joy for T&T fans just two minutes later, when Jones sprung Yorke, who dribbled the keeper and netted from close up.
There were several other chances which the hosts did not convert, before Daniel left the best for last.
Meeting Edwards' cross, the United Petrotrin midfielder side-footed the ball off inside of his left foot and found the top of the net in spectacular fashion. Substitutes Stern John and Jason Scotland both missed chances to add further goals, but it mattered little by then.