Trinidad and Tobago national team head coach Francisco Maturana was proud to be a part of history on Wednesday night as the hosts recorded their maiden competitive win over the United States at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
Guatemala require a win on the road against the United States to progress at the Warriors' expense but, even then, they will need Trinidad and Tobago to lose, in Port of Spain, to a Cuban team they dismantled 3-1 in Havana, two months ago.
Maturana, who was much maligned after last month's 3-0 loss away to the "Yankees", was in high spirits on Wednesday.
"The people of Trinidad and Tobago will always remember this game," said Maturana, through translator Professor Ancil Glod. "I feel very, very contented."
One reporter suggested that Wednesday's result might have saved Maturana's post and the former two-time Colombia World Cup coach did not disagree. If Maturana remains at the helm for the final round of six, he would owe much to the man initially expected to take his job.
Maturana, typically gracious, was liberal in his praise of his 40-year-old star Russell "the Little Magician" Latapy, who scored the opener with a smart volley.
"He is a player who is out of this world," said Maturana, whose only prior knowledge of Latapy was a televised look at his 25-minute 2006 World Cup cameo against Paraguay. "His professionalism and his great way about him stands out Dwight (Yorke) and Latapy were an example to the youths."
The composition of the opposing squad was, arguably, also a factor in Wednesday's triumph as US coach Bob Bradley travelled to Trinidad with only two regular starters.
Bradley played a weakened team against Trinidad and Tobago at the United States 2007 Gold Cup and still emerged comfortable 2-0 victors, but he denied any suggestion that he might have taken the hosts for granted or offered them a helping hand.
"We have a great deal of respect for Trinidad and Tobago," he said. "We were impressed by their attitude against Guatemala and we knew this would be a difficult game One of the objectives (of Wednesday's contest) was that we have players who have talent and need the experience of playing in difficult, intense games."
Guatemala's governing football body might be intrigued by Bradley's assertion that he might revert to a full-strength line-up when their teams collide, next month, in a crucial fixture for the Central Americans. But then Guatemala did themselves no favours after their midweek loss in Havana.
National captain Dwight Yorke, who played alongside Latapy in Trinidad and Tobago's infamous and decisive 1-0 World Cup qualifying loss to the US in 1989, insisted that the United States were due a competitive defeat from the southern Caribbean islanders.
"It's a massive win for us and we are grateful for the support from the public," said Yorke, who grabbed the winning goal from the penalty spot. "I think it's been coming for a while."
The Sunderland striker-cum-midfielder suggested that Trinidad and Tobago always possessed more talented players but failed to match the organisation of their North American counterparts.
He felt that the Warriors' had more belief and character after their 2006 World Cup participation and cited the performance in their goalless draw against Sweden which, he felt, was emulated when they tied Guatemala on the weekend despite playing a man short.
"Those are the type of games we would have lost over the years," said Yorke. "Wednesday night after the US had temporarily drawn level) was exactly the same I said to the players, 'keep your heads up, don't get disheartened and we will get another chance'."
Yorke hopes the positive results on the sporting field can extend to the wider community and slow the worrying crime rate.
He said it was too early for him to think about playing at the 2010 World Cup, should the Warriors qualify for the South African tournament, but did not dismiss the possibility.
Yorke admitted that he and Latapy joked about their combined age of 76 after the final whistle on Wednesday.
"(FIFA vice-president) Jack Warner felt that the younger players needed some guidance," said Yorke, as he explained his decision to come out of retirement. "I think the younger players shouldn't be too disheartened (at losing their places). (Latapy and I) just want Trinidad and Tobago to qualify and if we can help to do that then we are happy to contribute.
"We can't keep going forever but, while we can, we are happy to help and show them what it takes to compete at the very top."
Maturana is believed to have had little say in the return of either veteran although, on Wednesday night, he was thrilled to have them. So long, that is, as they concentrate on getting the job done on the field and do not have eyes on a coaching role while he is in charge.
The TTFF's declaration, two weeks ago, that Latapy would be given coaching responsibilities within the national set-up remains a non-starter for the Colombian.
"Latapy is the same as Dennis (Lawrence), Dwight or anybody else," said Maturana, when asked to give an update on Latapy's status within the team. "He is just a player."