Draw with Sweden feels like win to Trinidad and Tobago
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-11 09:46
Few gave it any chance against Sweden.
"We are not talking about mathematics, we're talking about football. And in
football anything is possible," Trinidad coach Leo Beenhakker said. "We are very
proud of our team. We are the first to recognize that Sweden has more talent
than us and had more opportunities to win the match. We have our eyes wide open.
But don't blame us that they didn't score a goal."
Fans back in Trinidad burst into tears and danced to the thump-thump of
Muslim drummers after the game, with one middle-aged man screaming, "We just won
the World Cup!"
T&T's next game comes Thursday against England, the small country's
former colonial ruler. Sweden will play Paraguay on Thursday in its second game
in Group B. England beat Paraguay 1-0 earlier Saturday.
Beenhakker used a defensive game plan, with Yorke playing back near the goal
instead of his usual attacking spot. T&T got even more defensive after John
was sent off for receiving his second yellow card, both for hard tackles on
Christian Wilhelmsson.
But Hislop stepped up with big save after big save, including a sliding stop
of Marcus Allback in the 80th minute that left the Swedes totally frustrated.
"It has been a boyhood dream come true. I don't know how to put it into
words," Hislop said. "I got the word just before the game. It worked out quite
well actually. Sometimes it's easier that way."
Despite playing with 10 men, Trinidad and Tobago got its best chance of the
game when Stern John sent Glen loose down the right side. Glen put a rocket of a
shot off the crossbar.
Sweden came right back and Ibrahimovic got another chance in front of the
net, but Hislop made a great reflex save to deflect it out.
Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg created numerous scoring
chances for the Swedes. But Hislop frustrated the pro-Swedish crowd with his
sparkling play and deliberate, time-wasting moves in the second half, when it
became clear T&T would be content with a draw.
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