Trinidad and Tobago FC

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Soca Warriors hang on for draw

10 Jun 2006 - 19:45:08

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Ten-man Trinidad & Tobago held on to secure a famous draw against Sweden in Dortmund as the Group B clash ended in a goalless stalemate.

The Soca Warriors had to play for virtually the whole of the second period without Avery John who was rightly dismissed only 30 seconds after the break for the last in a series of rash challenges.

But a succession of excellent saves by veteran West Ham United keeper Shaka Hislop - who was only playing after Kelvin Jack suffered an injury in the warm-up - frustrated the Swedes.

Indeed Trinidad & Tobago went closest to snatching all three points in the 59th minute when substitute Cornell John fired against the bar from a seemingly impossible angle.

Earlier Sweden had started brightly with Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic looking lively but Leo Beenhakker's well-organised side frustrated them again and again.

The Swedes dominated possession but found it difficult to create many clear-cut chances although Larsson headed a first-half header just over the bar and Olof Mellberg should have done better with a weak effort just before the interval.

Hislop was forced to make a smart save to keep Ibrahimovic's drilled effort out but the Scandinavian's pressure intensified after Avery John's red card in the opening minute of the second half.

Ibrahimovic headed Eirik Edman's curling cross over the bar on the hour while former Aston Villa and Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke's best work was mainly in defence as he helped out his over-worked colleagues.

Hislop also made a brilliant reflex save from Ibrahimovic's close-range effort immediately after John had hit the woodwork, while in the closing stages substitute Marcus Allback went close to breaking the deadlock several times.

But a solid if unspectacular Sweden side were unable to break through the resolute Soca Warriors defence and their evening was exemplified in stoppage time when the frustrated Larsson was booked for a rash challenge on Cyd Gray.