Trinidad and Tobago beat the United States 2-1 on Wednesday and boosted their dreams of qualifying for South Africa 2010. Goals from veterans Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke sealed the win.
Latapy, 40, opened the scoring in the 62nd minute and Yorke converted a penalty in the 79th. Charlie Davis scored for the United States in the 75th minute in the Group 1 match in the semi-final round of qualifying in the North and Central American and Caribbean region. The United States had already booked their berth in the six-nation final round of qualifying.
With the victory, Trinidad and Tobago boosted their chances of advancing. They have eight points, three more than Guatemala, who fell to previously winless Cuba on Wednesday with one match remaining for each.
With their place in the next round secure, USA coach Bob Bradley fielded a youthful lineup against Trinidad and Tobago, and the Americans lost for the first time in the qualifying campaign.
Chris Birchall played for the entire game, but didn't manage to score. Also playing were former Sky Blues, Stern John and Clayton Ince.