Game Report: Mexico vs Trinidad and Tobago

Mexico mauls T&T 7-0

MEXICO CITY -Trinidad and Tobago looked only a shadow of the team which beat Mexico 1-0 earlier this year and were thrashed 7-0 in the return leg World Cup Concacaf semifinal at the Atzeca Stadium here
yesterday.

The Mexicans took no prisoners and with the visitors playing without stars Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy, the game was a one-sided affair for most of the 90 minutes.

The result did not change either team's status, given that both already had qualified to compete in the finals that will determine which three teams from the regional Soccer Confederation will play in the World Cup.

Standing out for the Mexican team was forward Jared Borgetti, who scored three goals. Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored two more, and Duilio Davino scored one. Victor Ruiz made the final goal. Blanco opened the scoring in the 20th minute and added his second from the penalty spot in the 28th minute.

In between, Borgetti found the net in the 26th minute and then sent the Mexicans four up in the 30th minute to leave them with a 4-0 advantage at the half. Things got worse for the Trinidadians in the second period when
Davino scored in the 66th minute and Borgetti netted his third in the 71st minute.

Frustration continued to creep into the T&T game and manifested itself in the 74th minute when Ancil Elcock was ejected after a dangerous tackle on Blanco. Apart from the ejection, a penalty was also awarded and Ruiz
converted to leave the 65,000 Mexican fans jumping and ready to celebrate their team's victory. With the win, Mexico tied with T&T for first place in Group C of the Soccer Confederation. Each team has 12 points
from five games. Canada and Panama are in last place with one point each.

The players from Trinidad and Tobago finished Sunday's game visibly exhausted. The team arrived in the city on Saturday afternoon and players did not have time to adjust to the city's altitude, 2,240 metres (7,350 feet)
above sea level. 

T&T: Clayton Ince, Lyndon Andrews, Dale Saunders, Craig Dennin, Dennis Lawrence, Shurlan David (Reynold Carrington), Stokley Mason, Angus Eve, Ancil Elcock (ejected, 72), Jerren Nixon (Arnold Dwarika,
46), Nigel Pierre. (AP) 

Mexico thrashes Trinidad 7-0 


MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico took no prisoners against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, defeating the
team 7-0 in a victory that amply made up for a loss against the Caribbean competitors in the second game
of the qualifying round for World Cup 2002. 

The game did not change either team's status, given that both already had qualified to compete in the finals that will determine which three teams from the CONCACAF region -- also known as the Football Confederation --
will play in the World Cup. 

Standing out for the Mexican team was forward Jared Borgetti, who scored three goals. Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored two more, and Duilio Davino scored one. Victor Ruiz made the final goal. 

The victory was a sweet one for Mexican fans who saw their team lose to Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 in the second game of the elimination tournament in July. 

With the win, Mexico tied the Trinidadians in first place in Group C of CONCACAF. Each team has 12 points from five games. Canada and Panama are in last place with one point each. 

The Football Confederation includes teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. 

The players from Trinidad and Tobago finished Sunday's game visibly exhausted. The team arrived in the city on Saturday afternoon and players did not have time to adjust to the city's altitude, 2,240 meters (7,350 feet)
above sea level. In addition, the team was missing its star forward, Dwight Yorke, from England's Manchester United. 

The game took place before 65,000 spectators in the Azteca stadium in Mexico City.