Trinidad & Tobago's Kevin Molino (#10) attempts a shot against visiting Panama in a World Cup qualifier on March 24, 2017, in Port of Spain. (Photo: CA-Images)
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago – Trinidad & Tobago (1W-0D-2L, 3 points) secured its first points in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, earning a 1-0 win over visiting Panama (1-1-1, 4) on Friday at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Kevin Molino struck for the game’s only goal in the 37th minute, when he beat goalkeeper Jaime Penedo with a right-footed effort from outside the box.
The victory was Dennis Lawrence’s first for the Soca Warriors in a competitive match, since replacing Tom Saintfiet as head coach slightly more than two months ago. Lawrence, who started in all three of T&T’s matches in the 2006 World Cup, was previously an assistant under Roberto Martinez at Wigan, Everton and Belgium.
T&T improved to 5-0-0 all-time in World Cup Qualifying against Panama, which is winless in three of its last four Russia 2018 encounters and has scored only two goals over that stretch.
Two other CONCACAF Hexagonal matches will be played later in the evening: Mexico-Costa Rica and USA-Honduras.
Next up on March 28, 2017
Trinidad & Tobago: home v Mexico
Panama: home v USA
