Two-goal Yorke plays mas with Iceland

While the majority of Trinidad and Tobago were revelling on the streets, there was also Carnival atmosphere at the home of Queen’s Park Rangers, in front of a crowd numbering 7,980, which included Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday and wife Oma.

In their first match since qualifying for World Cup Germany 2006 in Germany, Yorke put the "Soca Warriors" ahead in the tenth minute.

Striker Collin Samuel sped down the left wing and sent across a centre which was partially cleared by defender Heidar Helguson, and Yorke, on the edge of the penalty box, volleying the loose ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Arni Arason.

Midfielder Aurtis Whitley saw his long-range effort sail over the goal in the 18th minute while striker Stern John missed a simple chance, firing overbar from close up in the 34th.

The English-born duo of goalkeeper Anthony Warner and utility player Ricky Shakes, as well as midfielder Silvio Spann, were halftime replacements for Shaka Hislop, Carlos Edwards and Whitley, but it was Yorke who would put the game beyond the reach of the Icelanders.

In the 54th, Yorke sent wing-back Avery John free on the left flank who sent a pin-point centre to namesake pushed to the turf Iceland defender Ivar Ingimarsson inside the penalty box.

Veteran Yorke calmly and contemptuously chipped the spot-kick over the dive of reserve goalkeeper D Larrusson.

Iceland captain Eidur Gudjohnsen came close to pulling one back for his team with a free-kick from the edge of the area which drifted wide of the mark.

Yorke was soon replaced by close friend Russell Latapy while the youthful pair of Kenwyne Jones and debutant Kevon Neaves were inserted for Stern John and Samuel later in the half.

But there were no way back for Iceland, as the TT defence marshalled by Marvin "Dog" Andrews and Dennis "Tallest" Lawrence, the Bahrain hero, held firm.

When the final whistle blew the venue, despite the overall temperature of minus three degrees Celsius, was a Carnival "leggo" with several young women dressed in masquerade costumes, who jumped and danced Carnival-style to inject Carnival spirit of the day into the freezing stadium.

TT team: Shaka Hislop (Anthony Warner 46th); Marvin Andrews, Dennis Lawrence, Avery John, Cyd Gray; Chris Birchall, Dwight Yorke (capt) (Russell Latapy 58th), Aurtis Whitley (Silvio Spann 46th), Carlos Edwards (Ricky Shakes 46th); Collin Samuel (Kevon Neaves 77th), Stern John (Kenwyne Jones 65th).