CATHERINE HALL, St James — It will be a race to see which one of two nations — defending champions Cuba or French Guiana — will accompany CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers Trinidad and Tobago when action continues in Group A of the CFU Caribbean Cup with a double header at the Montego Bay Sports Complex today.

Trinidad and Tobago are on six points after holding off 10-man French Guiana 4-2 on Thursday and assured themselves of playing at least the third-place game next Tuesday, while Cuba are in second place on four points after a pulsating extra time 3-2 win over plucky Curacao, and should be the odds-on bet to advance.

French Guiana are on one point and will play unlucky Curacao in the first game at 5:30 pm and a big win could put pressure on Cuba, who play Trinidad & Tobago in the second game.

A big win for French Guiana would force Cuba to get at least a point from Trinidad if they are to continue the defence of the title they won two years ago in Antigua.

Group A has provided its share of excitement and goals in the tournament from the opening day when Curacao pressured Trinidad, only to lose 2-3, and while another good day is anticipated, the teams will have to come good to equal Thursday’s excitement.

Cuba got their first win on the last kick of the game well into extra time and kept their title defence alive after Trinidad and Tobago, who are ranked at 49th on the FIFA list, made six changes from their first game, led 3-0 before French Guiana stormed back after going down to 10 players.

Trinidad were cruising with two goals from Kevin Molino in the 17th and 58th minutes and a penalty conversion from Lester Peltier in the 63rd minute.

The penalty was awarded after Marvin Torvic was ruled to have fouled Molino inside the box, which caused him to pick up his second yellow card in a three-minute span, although his teammate Alaine Moges appeared to have been the culprit.

As they did against Cuba two days earlier to earn a point, French Guiana responded and got two goals from substitute Brian St Claire in the 64th and Jan David Legrand in the 84th, while hitting the woodwork twice between the goals.

A ferocious free kick three minutes into extra time from Ataulia Guerra that flew past the French Guiana goalkeeper knocked the fight out of French Guiana.

Cuba, who were victimised by a last minute goal in their first game, were the ones who scored late to win this time after leading twice.

Jorge Luis Corrales Cordero shot Cuba into the lead after 15 minutes, but Prince Rajcomar pulled his team level almost on the stroke of half-time.

A powerful and well-placed header just under the crossbar in the 51st minute from Yasmany Lopez Escalante restored Cuba’s lead, but Givaro Nepomuceno tied up the scores in the 69th minute to quiet the small Cuba-cheering section in the stands.

Five minutes into time added Orisbel Leiva Pascuel, who replaced striker Dayron Alberto Blanco Joseph in the 72nd minute, latched on to a loose ball and powered it into the goal as the fans went wild in celebration.