Underdogs Haiti upset Warriors

UNDERDOGS Haiti beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 in a friendly warm-up football match on Sunday in Tobago. It was the last match for the Trinidadians before a crucial 2006 World Cup qualifying match against the United States tomorrow at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. The poor result was aided largely by a poor debut from former Manchester United ace Dwight Yorke. Yorke was late with his challenge on Pierre Bruny inside the penalty area, and conceded the spot-kick which Peter Germain converted in the 19th minute at Shaw Park.

Trinidad and Tobago had already clinched the series with  victories in the two earlier matches that they won 1-0 and 2-1. The third match was hastily scheduled to allow the Soca Warriors  to play with Yorke before they battle the Americans. The 33-year-old Yorke was wearing national colours in a full international for the first time in three years, and played the  full match. He only rejoined the team Saturday morning, after he reconciled with long-standing foe Jack Warner, a Trinidadian who is the CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president. Trinidad have never made it to the World Cup and Yorke’s addition was believed to give the Caribbean country their best shot yet at a slot.

Despite creating several good openings after falling behind, the locals struggled to find the net, and coach Bertille St Clair was left scratching his head with less than three days to go before the big match against the United States. The Americans are nursing a 31-match unbeaten streak against CONCACAF nations, and are firm favourites. Yorke has played for English clubs since 1991, scoring 20 league goals for Manchester United in the 1999-2000 season. He’s made just four league starts and nine reserve appearances this season as a forward for Birmingham City, scoring twice.