Mexico		Trinidad & Tobago

FIFA World Cup™ Qualifier

Date	Venue	Location	Attendance
2005-06-08	Estadío Universitario	Monterrey, Mexico	32833

Mexico get the better of tenacious Warriors

Mexico emerged with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago here as the final phase of 2006 World Cup qualifying for North and Central America and the Caribbean reached the halfway stage. Goals from Jared Borgetti in the 65th minute and Luis Perez in the 89th secured the victory as Trinidad and Tobago's smothering defence failed to prevent Mexico from maintaining their place atop the standings in the six-nation final qualifying group. Mexico are unbeaten with four victories and a draw in their first five matches, with five more remaining, and topped the table on 13 points. In other matches Wednesday, the United States came away from Panama with a 3-0 victory for 12 points, and Costa Rica hosted Guatemala. Trinidad and Tobago couldn't improve on their total of four points, suffering their third defeat against one victory and one draw. But they surprised their hosts with their consistency - showing notable improvement under new coach Leo Beenhakker of the Netherlands.  They also created chances and had the partisan Mexican crowd miserable for long periods which is far form the norm for home qualifying matches for the Mexicans. It wasn't until the second half that the stalemate was broken, after a sideline to sideline move between Perez and Ramon Morales finished with Borgetti pushing the ball over. Perez nabbed the second goal in the game's closing moments, when he followed up on a block shot to beat goalie Kelvin Jack. T&T kept things closer than expected. They used physical play that appeared to catch faster Mexico off-guard and good tactical work also kept them in the game for longer periods that expected. Officials listed the game-time temperature at 99 degrees as both teams seem to tired out during parts of the match Trinidad and Tobago responded with effective double-teams. In the 39th minute, Jack left his net and the ball carried to Alberto Medina on a breakaway. But his shot from the left was knocked away by Avery John, who raced in to cover the open goal. John later injured himself as he fought on with the rest of the defense. In the first half midfielder Aurtis Whitley suffered a groin strain and had to be replaced by Brent Rahim in the second half. Rahim took his chance with intelligent play, hard tackling and good movement on the ball. He forced to 'keeper to pull off a great low save to deny his shot late in the game. The scoreless first half drew catcalls from the near-capacity crowd at Estadio Universtario and things almost got worse for the home team when John nearly got a goal off a corner kick in the 59th minute, outjumping everyone in front of the net, but it flashed past the near post from a Chris Birchall right side free kick The Mexicans went ahead in the 65th minute, when Perez sent a sideline-to-sideline pass ahead for Ramon Morales. His shot from the left was partially pushed out by  Jack but standing alone, Borgetti nudged the rebound home from point-blank range on the right. Perez added a goal from the right side in the 88th minute, firing from just outside the penalty area, then taking the rebound off Atiba Charles and depositing it into the net.

LINEUP
1.	Kelvin Jack
4.	Marvin Andrews 62 '
5.	David Charles
3.	Avery John 80 '
6.	Dennis Lawrence
8.	Christopher Birchall
	84' Gary Glasgow
11.	Carlos Edwards
18.	Densill Theobald
	80' Hector Sam
9.	Aurtis Whitley 46 '
	54' Brent Rahim
19.	Dwight Yorke (capt.)
14.	Stern John
SUBSTITUTES
12.	Brent Rahim 56 '
15.	Gary Glasgow
10.	Hector Sam
21.	Daurance Williams
16.	Anton Pierre
2.	Marlon Rojas
7.	Leslie Fitzpatrick
COACH
	Leo Beenhakker
SUBSTITUTIONS
54'	Brent Rahim for Aurtis Whitley
80'	Hector Sam for Densill Theobald
84'	Gary Glasgow for Christopher Birchall
YELLOW CARDS
46'	Aurtis Whitley
56'	Brent Rahim
62'	Marvin Andrews
80'	Avery John