Trinidad make play-offs

ByReuters

Published 13/10/2005 at 17:42 GMT

Trinidad & Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker says he was amazed by his side's resilience in the 2-1 win over Mexico which earned them a two-legged playoff next month against Bahrain for a place at the World Cup finals.

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The Soca Warriors missed a penalty and then fell behind before hitting back to win in Port of Spain on Wednesday and clinch fourth spot in the final stage of the CONCACAF qualifiers, two points ahead of Guatemala.

"The manner in which we fought during the whole game to turn around the result was amazing," Beenhakker told the Mexican radio station Estadio W on Thursday.

"It was an historic win which has left the doors open for this country to go to the World Cup."

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Beenhakker, 63, who coached his native Netherlands at the 1990 World Cup finals, added: "Time doesn't forgive and I'm more or less at the end of my sporting career.

"This could be a fantastic finale for me to take part at another World Cup."

Beenhakker replaced Bertille St Clair in April after the Caribbean islanders had failed to win any of their first three games in the six-team qualifying group.

Helped by the return of the experienced Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy, who came out of international retirement, the coach inspired a revival in which they won four of their last seven matches.

Trinidad were on the brink of qualifying for their first World Cup finals in 1990 but lost their last game at home to the United States when they needed only a draw to advance.

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