Tame Lions scrape past Soca Warriors

THE TT Soca Warriors gave another spirited and brave performance yesterday but were cut down by the superior firepower of England in a crucial World Cup Finals Group B match.

After holding out for most of the match through solid defence and inspired midfield work, the Soca Warriors were undone in the space of seven minutes.

Lanky striker Peter Crouch and marksman Steven Gerrard scored in the 83rd and 90th minutes respectively to book their team’s place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Crouch, who earlier caused untold problems with his 6-foot 7-inch height missed several chances but rose high over the Trinidad and Tobago defence to meet David Beckham’s right-wing cross and head the ball past goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.

Gerrard then struck in stoppage time with a thumping left-footed drive after England were made to labour against the World Cup debutants.

Playing before a sell-out crowd of of 46,600 boisterous English fans and close to 7,500 Soca Warriors supporters, the match created tremendous interest with the international media flocking the venue at the Franken-Stadion.

Unprecedented security ringed the stadium and the playing field as the match officials were determined to snuff out any sign of trouble. And although England won they had a disappointng match again following their boring 1-0 victory against Paraguay last Saturday. During the match England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson appeared frustrated with his teams lack of ideas and creativity.

And although they created more opportunities than their opponents they never really dominated the match and were lucky to come away 2-0 winners in the dying minutes.

After the match Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker praised his players for matching the English team for most of the match and said they deserved to win in the end.

He however admitted that despite no wins in their campaign so far the Soca Warriors are still in with a mathematical chance of qualifying for the last 16 knock-out phase of the competition.

England have six points from two matches while Sweden have four points and Trinidad and Tobago have one point. Paraguay are in cellar position.

England coach Eriksson also commended the Trinidad and Tobago defence in the post-match media conference saying that the tenacious back line was very difficult to pierce. And he refused to comment on the possible match-up with Germany in the round of 16 which he said will all depend on the last two matches in the group.

The defeat for Trinidad and Tobago means that the debutants in the World Cup are yet to win a match.

England: Robinson, Carragher (Lennon 58), Terry, Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Joe Cole (Downing 74), Owen (Rooney 58), Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Campbell, James, Bridge, Hargreaves, Jenas, Carrick, Carson, Walcott, Neville.

Booked: Lampard.

Goals: Crouch 83, Gerrard 90.

Trinidad and Tobago: Hislop, Edwards, Sancho, Lawrence, Gray, Birchall, Whitley, Yorke, Theobald (Wise 85), Stern John, Jones (Glen 70).

Subs Not Used: Cox, Latapy, Samuel, Charles, Scotland, Ince, Wolfe, Andrews, Jack.

Booked: Theobald, Whitley, Jones, Hislop, Gray.

Att: 41,000.

Ref: Toru Kamikawa (Japan). FIFA Man of the Match: David Beckham.