Slovenia outplay Soca Warriors 3-1

LJUBLJANA: Milivoj Novakovic scored a hat-trick yesterday to lead Slovenia to a 3-1 victory over World Cup-bound Trinidad and Tobago in a pre-World Cup friendly international match.

Novakovic scored the first goal in the fourth minute, prodding a loose ball into the net from close range. He added a second 11 minutes later, volleying in a rebound after goalkeeper Shaka Hislop parried a header from a corner kick.

Christopher Birchall narrowed the score to 2-1 for Trinidad in the 26th minute after he trapped a pass on the edge of the penalty area and drilled in a low shot on the bounce.

Novakovic scored the final goal with his third in the 77th minute, pouncing on a fumbled save from a distant shot and slotting into an empty net.

Slovenia, who are rebuilding for 2008 European Championship qualifying, outplayed the visitors, exposing glaring weaknesses as they prepare for their first World Cup.

One of the tournament’s longest shots, Trinidad qualified by beating Bahrain in the play-offs and was drawn in Group “B” with England, Sweden and Paraguay.

The former British colony, who lost to Wales 2-1 on Saturday, complete their preparations with a match against the Czech Republic on Saturday before arriving in Germany the next day.

Line-ups: Slovenia: Borut Mavric; Andrej Komac (Borut Semler 56), Matej Mavric, Branko Ilic, Ales Kokot, Nastja Ceh (Bojan Jokic, 86), Anton Zlogar (Goran Sukalo, 83), Janez Zavrl (Valter Birca, 70), Robert Koren, Milivoje Novakovic (Dejan Rusic, 89), Klemen Lavric (Mile Acimovic, 53).

Trinidad and Tobago: Shaka Hislop; Cyd Gray, Avery John, Dennis Lawrence, Marvin Andrews (Brent Sancho, 45), Christopher Birchall, Jason Scotland, Carlos Edwards, Aurtis Whitley (Evans Wise, 69), Dwight Yorke, Stern John. (AP)