Soca Warriors scare England

They fell 2-0 to late strikes by England in a clash of David vs Goliath at the Franken-Stadion here.

Before another sell-out crowd of 42,600, mostly vociferous English supporters, the Soca Warriors, who shock the world with their 0-0 draw with Sweden on Saturday, proved once again that they were not in the tournament just to make up numbers, as indicated by captain Yorke and coach Leo Beenhakker.

After surviving a tough test in the first 45 minutes and some poor officiating by Japanese referee Toru Kamikawa, T&T buckled in the end from the persistent attacks of the Lions, conceding late goals from the lanky Peter Crouch and midfielder Steven Gerrard.

The England star-studded midfield of Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and captain David Beckham seized control against a very patient T&T side.

Lampard had the first crack at goal for the favourites in the fourth minute against the minnows from the Caribbean .

Given space on top of the 18-yard box, Lampard blasted straight at Hislop who could only parry the ball into the path of an onrushing Michael Owen, who effort from on the six-yard line was wide of the mark.

The next chance for England came via Crouch, who forced Hislop into guided his sliding attempt at the far post, off a Cole (J) feed, around the post for a corner in the 16th minute.

England continued to enjoy the better of the earl exchanges and had two chances from David Beckham free-kicks just outside the Soca Warriors 18-yard box to go ahead, but he failed to get through the T&T wall and Hislop.

T&T’s first real threat on goal came in the 25th minute, when Yorke ran onto a through ball from Carlos Edwards, worked his way past left back Ashley Cole and whipped in the ball, but goalkeeper Paul Robinson was on spot to pluck it out of the air and away from an onrushing Stern John.

With 30 minutes gone in the match and the score still 0-0 it was quite evident that the English fans were not not happy about coach Sven-Goran Eriksson direct approach of long balls up field for Crouch and Owen.

On the other hand, Soca Warriors coach Leo Beenhakker and his team were growing in confidence by the minute and even threatening to put the hurt on England.

That chance was almost sealed came Edwards and Yorke worked a short corner before the latter curled the ball across the face of the English six-yard box, but luckily for the Lions, both Dennis Lawrence and John failed to make connection despite going full stretch.

Lampard then wasted another England chance from inside the penalty area, when he struck a ball headed down by Michael Owen over the bar from just inside the area in the 40th minute.

Crouch also let T&T off the hook when he fired wide of the target with only Hislop to beat, after being picked out at the far post by Beckham.

But on the stroke of half-time, it was the first time qualifiers T&T who almost took a surprise lead into the interval.

Lawrence beat goalkeeper Robinson to a cross and headed goalward, but defender John Terry was on spot to clear the ball off the goalline despite Stern John’s efforts to help it in.

It was a lucky escape for England, and one they would come to take advantage of in the end.

Owen again came close in the 56th minute off a Beckham free-kick.

The second-half started in as much as did the first, with England doing most of the attacking.

With chants of Rooney, Rooney ringing out all around the stadium from the English fans, England coach Eriksson responded by introducing the Manchester United striker for his first taste of action in the tournament, since recovering from a broken leg suffered almost six weeks ago.

It was double change by England, with Rooney and Aaron Lennon coming in for Jamie Carragher and an out of sorts Owen.

Lennon proved to be an instant threat for England as his speed down the right flank caused Densill Theobald and Cyd Gray a few problems.

T&T coach Beenhakker also went to his bench and brought on speedy striker Cornell Glen for Kenwyne Jones, who had a good game up front with John.

Glen also began to create a few problems of his own, twice getting the better of Ashley Cole in one-on-one situations, before being denied shots on goal by the retreating defence.

Lampard then had two chance to score for his team, the first of which he hammered straight at Hislop, while the second attempt was fired across the face of the goal.

England were now pressuring T&T deep in the half and looked the more likely to score. However, T&T also looked threatening on the counter-attack.

The last ten minutes were exciting, with the lanky Crouch finally calming the nerves of the England fans.

He reached over the shoulders of Sancho to head home over the head of goalkeeper Hislop, from a Beckham right side cross.

It was a tough blow to swallow for the valiant Warriors who had battled the Lions so well.

But had made a run upfield and left Crouch free, and the forward got the better of the shorter Sancho to give his team the lead in the 83rd minute.

Gerrard sealed the match for England in the first of the three minutes of extra-time, when he eluded midfielder Aurtis Whitely just on the top of the left hand corner of the penalty-area, and sent a left foot shot past the out stretched hands of Hislop into the top right hand corner of the goal.

It was goal fitting of any World Cup stage, and, as Beenhakker said, no reason why the Warriors should hang their heads.

T&T team: Shaka Hislop, Dennis Lawrence, Brent Sancho, Christopher Birchall, Cyd Gray, Aurtis Whitley, Carlos Edwards, Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, (Cornell Glen 69th) Densill Theobald (Evans Wise 84th), Dwight Yorke (captain).

Subs not used: Ian Cox, Russell Latapy, Collin Samuel, Atiba Charles, Jason Scotland, Clayton Ince, Anthony Wolfe.

England team: Paul Robinson, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Michael Owen (Wayne Rooney 58th), Joe Cole (Stewart Downing 74th), Jamie Carrergher (Aaron Lennon 58th), Peter Crouch.

Subs not used: Sol Campbell, David James, Wayne Bridge, Owen Hargraves, Jermaine Jenas, Michael Carrick, Scott Carson, Theo Walcott.