October 15, 2009 ALL EVEN Mexico ties Soca Warriors 2-2
Carlos Salcido’s goal gave Mexico a 2-2 tie with Trinidad & Tobago on the final day of World Cup 2010 qualifying. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad—Mexico closed out their 2010 CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament with a feisty 2-2 draw with Trinidad and Tobago Wednesday night at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The meaningless match – Mexico had already qualified for South Africa 2010 and T&T were out of the running – was intense nevertheless, with El Tri rallying twice to salvage the tie. After literally “spotting” T&T their first goal, in the form of a 32nd minute penalty kick converted by Kerry Baptiste, Mexico turned to their bench to level the score. Substitute Cuauhtemoc Blanco led fellow sub Enrique Esqueda into the box in the 57th minute. Esqueda left netminder Marvin Phillip flat-footed with a shot into the roof of the goal.
Trinidad retaliated quickly, however, retaking the lead with Baptiste’s second goal of the match, a header from just off the goal line in the 61st.
Carlos Salcido closed out the scoring three minutes later, off a corner kick.
Mexico finished second in the qualifying tournament with 19 points, one behind the United States and three ahead of third-place Honduras. Trinidad & Tobago managed only six points in their 10 final round matches, leaving them last in the six-team field.
