BACOLET, Tobago, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup hopes suffered another huge blow Saturday evening when they went down -2-3 to Costa Rica in their latest CONCACAF qualifier for the 2010 Finals in South Africa.
Already bottom of the six-team table without a win, T&T’s Soca Warriors lost more valuable ground while Costa Rica used a brace from Celso Borges to widen their lead to a beefy five points.
The Ticos, who whipped previous leaders USA 3-1 in a midweek game in San Jose, have now jumped to 12 points, leaving the USA (7) and Honduras (4) behind.
Traditional powerhouse Mexico are fourth on three points, followed by El Salvador and T&T bottom of the table with two points each. Carlos Edwards gave T&T a 29th minute lead but Alvaro Saborio sent the visitors to the halftime break locked at 1-1 after a 40th minute goal at Dwight Yorke Stadium. Borges sent Costa Rica 2-1 up seven minutes into the second half.
But 2006 World Cup qualifiers T&T, desperate for a win to keep alive their hopes of a repeat appearance at football’s biggest show, rallied to tie the game at 2-2 when Collin Samuel scored in the 63rd minute. Borges hit the winning goal in the 68th minute and strengthened the Ticos’ grip on a qualifying position for South Africa.
The top three finishers from CONCACAF automatically qualify for South Africa and the fourth place team will meet the fifth-place team from South America in a play-off to claim the 32nd and last place in the finals for World Cup South Africa 2010.
