Goal spree results in 2-2 draw for Mexico, Trinidad

October 15, 2009

Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago combined for three goals in a eight-minute span midway through the second half en route to a 2-2 draw at Hasely Crawford Stadium Wednesday night on the final night of CONCACAF qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

Mexico, which saw its five-match winning streak snapped, finished second in the CONCACAF “hexagonal”, one point behind the United States. Honduras defeated El Salvador 1-0 in San Salvador and, coupled with USA’s stunning 2-2 draw against Costa Rica, earned the confederation’s third automatic berth to the World Cup.

Trinidad & Tobago, which received two goals from Kerry Baptiste, finished last in the six-team group with six points from 10 matches.

Playing for nothing but pride, the Soca Warriors pressured El Tri from the opening kick. Dennis Lawrence’s point blank header was pushed away by Guillermo Ochoa, who also was caught off his line moments later before a Trinidad defender cleared the ball off the line.

Baptiste was then played behind the Mexican defense, but he fired well of the target from 16 meters. Baptiste stepped to the spot in the 32nd minute after Gerardo Torrado was adjusted to handle a deep cross.

The Joe Public midfielder fired a low shot that just evaded Ochoa, who guessed correctly and Trinidad & Tobago had a 1-0 halftime lead.

Enrique Esqueda equalized in the 58th minute, ripping the ball over goalkeeper Marvin Phillip’s right shoulder from the right side of the box.

But the Soca Warriors quickly regained the lead when Baptiste latched onto Hector Hughton’s ball into the box and headed past Ochoa from the edge of the six-yard box in the 61st minute.

Trinidad’s lead lasted all of five minutes, though, as Carlos Salcido got in behind the defense and headed the equalizer into the net.

The Soca Warriors nearly claimed all three points moments later, but Robert Primus’ header caromed off the crossbar.

With the United States losing 2-0 to Costa Rica at halftime in Washington, it seemed Mexico would finish atop the group with a draw, but the Americans rallied late and on Jonathan Bornstein’s goal 4½ minutes into second-half stoppage time to stay one point ahead of El Tri.

PORT-OF-SPAIN

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