Trinidad and Tobago's striker John Stern holds his national flag after his team's victory over Bahrain in a World Cup 2006 qualifying match in Manama, Bahrain yesterday. Trinidad beat Bahrain 1-0 (2-1 on aggregate) to qualify for the World Cup.

Trinidad................................ 1
Lawrence (49th)
Bahrain................................ 0

MANAMA, Bahrain - There might have been finer performances from Trinidad and Tobago on the field of play, but none certainly more significant than the one here last night.

Before a capacity crowd inside the Bahraini National Stadium, the Soca Warriors were in football heaven as they defeated Bahraini 1-0 to secure a place in Germany 2006 World Cup Finals in their second leg home-and-way qualifying play-off.

They go through on a 2-1 aggregate after the first game ended 1-1 in Port of Spain on Saturday.

Goalscorer Dennis Lawrence (centre) is congratulated by team mates after his goal yesterday.

The victory enabled Trinidad and Tobago to become the second English-speaking Caribbean nation to have qualified for football's prime tournament after Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, who made it to France 1998.

The goal, the most important to be scored by any Trinidadian in the history of the nation's football, was by defender Dennis Lawrence in the 49th minute. A moment that will be remembered for time immemorial for this tiny twin-isle Caribbean nation of 1.3 million people.

It could have easily been more, but substitute Russell Latapy missed two easy chances in the box in quick succession, with one of the strikes hitting the woodwork from 16 yards.

And the man who has worked hardest to get Trinidad here, FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Austin "Jack" Warner could not find words yesterday to describe the feeling.

Bahrain's Rashed Abdul Rahman (right) vies with Dwight Yorke, captain of Trinidad and Tobago during their World Cup 2006 Asian qualifier in Manama yesterday. (Photo: AFP)

"For once I have no words to tell you how I am feeling and after 35 years working in the football vineyard, so to speak, I have achieved my objective, my dream," he said.

Trinidad, ranked 53rd by FIFA, will now join the USA, Mexico and Costa Rica in Germany next year as CONCACAF representatives.

"... This is also great for CONCACAF because now we have four teams in the World Cup and ... we (Trinidad) must now go there (Germany) and play well and give the world something to be proud of," Warner added.

In the 90th minute Ahmed Husain, clearly the most dangerous player for Bahrain, got the ball into the back of the net, but the referee disallowed it as he spotted an infringement.

And as the reality of defeat began to seep into the Bahraini players, they became very hostile and were involved in a physical face-off with the Trinidadians. And as tempers soared, Hasan Husain was shown the red card for violent conduct.

And if there is a Bahraini player that should be hailed for effort yesterday, it had to be Ahmed Husain, as he tried his best to the very last.

In time added, his powerful left-footed shot brought out the best in goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, who had to soar to his left to tip the dipping shot over and away from the frame. After that, it was just the winding down of the clock by the Trinis. They knew it was all over.

Trinidad and Tobago started the contest on a positive note in the first five minutes with smooth passing, as they searched for opening goal, and during that spell, Bahrain found no response. But the hosts' defence stood up and fended off what the Soca Warriors threw their way.

Although a scoreless draw would be sufficient for Bahrain to advance, they appeared determined to go for a win and this was highlighted by their numerous march on goal.

In the eighth minute, Trinis survived a scare in the box when a Bahraini leg poked the ball goal-ward after a melee in the box, but the effort was blocked by the lanky Trinidadian Lawrence.

But the Warriors responded in the 22nd minute courtesy of Kenwyne Jones, who glided across the 18-yard box, but his ambitious left-footed shot was deflected for a corner.

Stern John, too, came close to breaking the deadlock in 32nd when he burrowed his way inside the danger area, but goalkeeper Ali Hassan was well-positioned to guide the threatening ball behind for a corner.

But the best chance for Bahrain came in minute 41 when Trinidad goalie Kelvin Jack totally mishandled a high ball into the area, but an alert Marvin Andrews headed the ball over the horizontal as it floated towards the frame, ensuring that a rapidly arriving Ahmed Hussain did not get on to the end of the ball.

In the 49th minute the 35,000 capacity Bahrain National Stadium was stunned into silence when the lanky Lawrence rose majestically to head home skipper Dwight Yorke's left-sided corner.

And the pocket of Trinidadian fans here erupted into a carnival of singing and dancing to steel band that was flown here to provide music. The Bahrainis, too, had their bands, but their music was nothing as sweet as that coming from the Trini ensemble.

And the goal not only spurred the fans, but also the players on the field who were not prepared to relax on the one-goal lead. They hatched a number of attacking plays through their inspirational leader Yorke, Jones and John, who tore into the heart of a Bahraini defence that appeared to have lost its confidence after the 'golden goal'.

Teams:

Bahrain - Ali Hassan, Sayed Adnan, Salman Isa Ghuloom (Faouszi Aaish 80th), Ali Hassan Hussain, Mohammed Hubail, Sayed Jalal, Rasheed Abdul Rahman, Alaa Hubail, Abdulla Mohammed, Mohammed Talal, Ahmed Hussain.

Booked: M Hubail (44th), A Hubail (73rd) H Husain (red-carded 90th)

Subs not used: S Jaffar, A Alhujairi, G Al-Kawari, E Meshkhas, A Taleb, S Farhan.

Trinidad - Kelvin Jack, Marvin Andrews, Emery John, Christopher Birchall (Silvio Spann 21st), Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards (Ian Cox 83rd), Aurtis Whitley, Dwight Yorke, Kenwyn Jones (Russell Latapy 77th), Cyd Gray, Stern John.

Booked: Yorke (53rd), Gray (59th), Latapy (89th)

Subs not used: S Hislop, C Glen, B Sancho, R Latapy, D Theobald, J Scotland, I Cox, N Hislop.

Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)

Assistants: Eduardo Botero & Fernando Tamayo (Colombia)

Fourth Official: Carlos Lopez

Match Commissioner: Jim Hansen (Denmark)

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