US Loses to Trinidad & Tobago

Late Penalty Kick Downs Americans

October 16, 2008

Forty-year-old Russell Latapy and 36-year-old Dwight Yorke scored for Trinidad, while also helping the Soca Warriors hold a U.S. lineup, that averaged less than 24-years-old, to just three shots all evening.

After a scoreless first half, Latapy opened the scoring in the 61st minute.

Former Boston College standout Charlie Davies notched the equalizer with 15 minutes remaining, but Yorke put the Soca Warriors one step closer to advancing to the Final Round when he stepped up and buried the game-winning spot kick.

�It was a hard fought match. I thought both teams went after each other in a way that made it hard,� said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley after his first loss to a CONCACAF opponent. �In the second half, I thought we had a good response when we went down 1-0, and unfortunately when the game is 1-1 and everything is to play for, we have a foul. Certainly we have a lot of respect for Trinidad & Tobago. They have a lot of talented players, and we knew it was going to be a physical game. It was hard match and a physical match, with intensity on both sides."

In the 61st minute, Latapy backed off his run to create space away from Danny Califf, and hit a first-time shot that hit the post and went off a diving Brad Guzan�s back before going into the net.

The U.S. was able to respond in the 75th minute, as Davies found the back of the net just six minutes after coming into the game. The play started on the right with Altidore laying the ball back to Maurice Edu. Edu�s first touch forward was overcooked, but fortunately went right back to Altidore who was able to turn through the Trinidad & Tobago defense and dribble to the endline, where his low cross was tapped into an open goal by a charging Davies.

Three minutes later, Edwards was dangerous again as Trinidad & Tobago substitute Khaleem Hyland sent a cross from the left that was deftly settled by Edwards beyond the far post before he uncorked a shot that was cleared over the goal by Orzoco. On the ensuing corner, Altidore surrendered a penalty as he grabbed a handful of Makan Hislop�s jersey in plain site of referee Walter Quesada, who pointed to the spot. Yorke converted the game-winner for Trinidad & Tobago.

The U.S. team will regroup for its final match of the year and final qualifier from the Semifinal Round on Nov. 19 vs. a Guatemala team that needs a win for any hope of advancing to the hexagonal next year.

U.S. Men's National Team Match Report

Scoring Summary:
TRI � Russel Latapy (Carlos Edwards) 61st minute
USA � Charlie Davies (Jozy Altidore) 75th
TRI � Dwight Yorke (penalty kick) 79th

Lineups:
USA: 18-Brad Guzan; 15-Heath Pearce (11-Chris Rolfe, 88), 14-Danny Califf, 5-Michael Orozco, 2-Frankie Hejduk; 7-DaMarcus Beasley, 4-Jose Francisco Torres (8-Danny Szetela, 84), 17-Freddy Adu (10-Charlie Davies, 69), 13-Maurice Edu, 16-Sacha Kljestan; 17; 9-Jozy Altidore.

TRI: 1-Clayton Ince; 3-Akile Edwards, 5-Keyeno Thomas (4-Makan Hislop, 35), 6-Dennis Lawrence; 7-Chris Brichill, 9-Keon Daniel, 10-Russel Latapy (8-Khaleem Hyland, 76), 11-Carlos Edwards, 16-Silvio Spann, 12-Jason Scotland (14-Stern John, 67), 17-Dwight Yorke

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