Cup Destiny in Warriors’ hands

The stage is set at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo which is expected to be transformed into a sea of red from 5 pm when the gates are opened.

The match will be attended by an unprecedented show of security ordered by FIFA, the world governing body for the sport.

No parking for the general public will be allowed in or around the stadium which will be ringed by a heavy police presence to prevent any untoward incident.

On the field of play, for Trinidad and Tobago skipper Dwight Yorke and his team-mates, getting by Mexico will be their focus.

And for the opposition the top position in the group standings will be uppermost in their minds especially following an emphatic 5-2 win over Guatemala on Saturday in their penultimate match of the CONCACAF qualifying round.

The Warriors can still advance to the play-offs whatever the outcome of tonight’s match with Mexico, once Guatemala lose or draw at home to Costa Rica. This match kicks off at the same time as the Port-of-Spain encounter.

But if Guatemala (eight points) were to win (taking them to 11 points), TT (ten points) would have to ensure they defeat the Mexicans in order to progress as they would end with 13 points. If both teams finish on 11 points, Guatemala will advance on a better head-to-head goal difference.

Leo Beenhakker’s charges are riding the momentum of a gutsy 1-0 win over Panama on Saturday — their third win of the round which gives them a glimmer of hope.

Mexican coach Ronald La Volpe, despite having qualified already said yesterday at the Hilton Trinidad that his team intends to "play good football."

"I believe that it is the same commitment with which we are going to face this team, because it is part of the eliminatory one and because we want to win and to top the first place of the hexagonal group," he said. Mexico’s Argentine born-forward Guillermo Franco said he is focusing on a win.

"Now we must try to finish first in the group, that is most important, and for me taking advantage of the opportunity that Mexico has given me," said Franco."

"We must only think about Mexico, which we are going to do, how we are going to work and to face them. Let Trinidad and Tobago worry about that," Franco said. But their hardnose attitude is not expected to throw off Yorke and the Warriors who know that they have more at stake.

"This match means everything to us and there’s no reason for us to feel we can’t get the result we need to progress closer to the World Cup," Yorke told TTFF Media.

"We all know how good the Mexicans are and it’s no secret that any team in our position would have preferred to play some other team. But that’s how the draw has gone and we must be ready for it and I can assure you that we will be ready for what comes our way. We hope that everyone comes out and supports us because a spot in Germany is obviously what we have on our minds," Yorke said.

Beenhakker has worked in Mexico before and he too knows how much is on the table for TT.

"I have said all along that we must be ready and we must play our own game more than ever. There’s nothing different except that we are one match away from going to the play-offs. All the players and the people of the country seem to want this more than ever and we all know what it can do for everyone," he said.

The last victory over Mexico is still fresh in the minds of local fans.

The 1-0 win at the Hasely Crawford Stadium came in the semi-final round of the 2002 campaign when playmaker Russell Latapy scored in the 85th minute which remains one of the highlights of his career.

Before that TT’s other win against the Mexicans came on December 14, 1973 when Everald "Gally" Cummings (11th and 39th), Steve David (52nd) and Warren Archibald (62nd) were the scorers in the 4-0 result at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Haiti.

Current President of the Football Federation Oliver Camps was the manager of the team then which narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 1974 World Cup in Germany. Tonight, destiny is in the hands and feet of Team TT trying to get to Germany once again.