Goalless draw in St Clair’s finale

A CROWD of 12,000 witnessed a spirited performance by Trinidad and Tobago —  the final match at the helm for coach Bertille St Clair —  as the hosts held Costa Rica to a goalless draw in their CONCACAF World Cup Final Round qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday. While St Clair, known for his anti-media stance, vehemently denied in a press match conference that his job was at stake, the secret was out that the Tobago-born coach was sacked by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF).

The decision was announced in a radio interview by TTFF special advisor Jack Warner moments before the start of yesterday’s encounter. (See Page 35). St Clair was clearly unsettled during the match, conducting animated conversations with  assistant coach Ron La Forest over the 57th minute over a choice of substitutes. By then it was clear that strikers Cornell Glen and Stern John, as well as midfielders Silvio Spann, Angus Eve and Carlos Edwards, were fading under pressure from the gutsy Costa Ricans.

And it seemed to the naked eye that St Clair’s role was under pressure when another assistant, David Nakhid, repeatedly took the initiative in instructing the players while St Clair sat watching  on the edge of the bench. Nevertheless, Trinidad and Tobago took the attack to the Costa Ricans early but failed to open the scoring in the 11th minute when Glen collected a left-sided cross from Marlos Rojas and kicked straight at goalkeeper Alvaro Mesen. But the Central Americans seized the ascendancy and six minutes Alonso Soris fed fellow midfielder Walter Centeno in the middle but his shot sailed wide.

Goalkeeper Clayton Ince was forced, on one-and-one opportunities, to block attempts by Soris in the 27th and striker Whayne Wilson in the 28th. And Glen failed to get a touch on a right-side centre by David Atiba Charles in the 40th, after Charles (who gave an inspired display) got past Costa Rican defender Leonardo Gonzalez. Ince was called into action in the 52nd, blocking a drive by Harold Wallace after the right-back was sent clear by substitute Carlos Hernandez. But the TT effort went cold, as Spann suffered an injury by Centeno, Glen sustained cramps while the humidity, and fatigue, got the better of Eve, John, Edwards and fullback Dennis Lawrence. Ace striker Paolo Wanchope was brought on as a 67th minute substitute by Costa Rican coach Jorge Luis Pinto but he produced little on the day.

The hosts again fought valiantly for the winning item, with substitute Nigel Pierre chesting a right-side cross from Angus Eve but a sprawling Mesen held the 75th minute chance on the line. A minute later, Hernandez sent his volley overbar and, in the 80th, Dwight Yorke, who was a non-factor for the entire match, rifled his shot against the body of defender Gilberto Martinez after receiving a through pass from Eve. Yorke, who wore the captain’s armband for the second straight game, looked like a player out of form and focus and one wondered how the 33-year-old, as well as troubled striker John, merited places on team.

Both players have yet to cement their places in their respective English clubs Birmingham and Coventry and they never seemed in sync yesterday. But, with the confidence displayed by Charles, defender Anton Pierre and striker Hector Sam, all is not lost for Trinidad and Tobago, after they gained their first point in a troubled Journey to Germany Final Round campaign.

Teams -
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO:Clayton Ince; Dennis Lawrence, Anton Pierre, Marlon Rojas, David Atiba Charles; Angus Eve, Silvio Spann (Leslie Fitzpatrick 64th), Carlos Edwards (Hector Sam 72nd), Dwight Yorke (capt); Cornell Glen (Nigel Pierre 74th), Stern John.
COSTA RICA:Alvaro Mesen; Luis Marin (capt), Gilberto Martinez, Leonardo Gonzalez, Harold Wallace; Christian Badilla, Douglas Sequeira, Oscar Rojas (Paolo Wanchope 67th), Alonso Solis  (Carlos Hernandez 51st) Walter Centeno, Whayne Wilson (Andy Herron 64th).