Joevin Jones (pictured) has scored Trinidad & Tobago's last two goals in World Cup Qualifying. (Photo: CA-Images)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
CONCACAF Qualifying -- Final Round, Matchday 1
Date: November 11, 2016
Match: Trinidad & Tobago v Costa Rica
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium – Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Time: 7:00 p.m. (local)
MATCH OFFICIALS
R: Oscar Moncada (Honduras)
AR1: Oscar Velasquez (Honduras)
AR2: Walter Lopez (Honduras)
4th: Armando Castro (Honduras)
SUSPENSIONS
none
ALL-TIME WCQ SERIES
Costa Rica leads: 11W-3D-0L (28GF, 5GA)
LAST WCQ MEETING
October 10, 2009: Costa Rica 4, Trinidad & Tobago 0
own-goal, Julius James 26’; Walter Centeno 51’; Alvaro Saborio 61’, 64’
FIVE MATCH WCQ FORM
Trinidad & Tobago: LDWWD
Costa Rica: WWWDW
CONCACAF QUALIFYING RESULTS
Trinidad Tobago (Overall record: 3W-2D-1L … 13GF, 9GA)
13.11.15 Guatemala v Trinidad & Tobago 1-2
17.11.15 Trinidad & Tobago v USA 0-0
25.03.16 St. Vincent & the Grenadines v Trinidad & Tobago 2-3
29.03.16 Trinidad & Tobago v St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6-0
02.09.16 Trinidad & Tobago v Guatemala 2-2
06.09.16 USA v Trinidad & Tobago 4-0
Costa Rica (Overall record: 5W-1D-0L … 11GF, 3 GA)
13.11.15 Costa Rica v Haiti 1-0
17.11.15 Panama v Costa Rica 1-2
25.03.16 Jamaica v Costa Rica 1-1
29.03.16 Costa Rica v Jamaica 3-0
02.09.16 Haiti v Costa Rica 0-1
06.09.16 Costa Rica v Panama 3-1
CONCACAF QUALIFYING SCORERS
Trinidad & Tobago: Kenwyne Jones, Joevin Jones (3); Trevin Caesar, Levi Garcia (2); Sheldon Bateau, Khaleem Hyland, Kevin Molino (1)
Costa Rica: Cristian Bolaños, Bryan Ruiz (2); Johnny Acosta, Randall Azofeifa, Celso Borges, Cristian Gamboa, Ronald Matarrita, Marco Ureña, Johan Venegas
KEY 2018 WCQ MOMENT
Trinidad & Tobago: In the third match of the fourth round on March 25, 2016, T&T found itself tied 2-2 at last-place St. Vincent & the Grenadines with time running out. Levi Garcia, who gave the visitor a 2-1 lead shortly after entering as a 65th minute substitute, netted the game-winner with eight minutes remaining in normal time. The rising AZ Alkmaar standout beat goalkeeper Lemus Christopher off a ball delivered over the defense by Neveal Hackshaw. The result – coupled with a 2-0 win for Guatemala over the visiting United States later in the evening -- lifted the Soca Warriors into first place in Group C.
Costa Rica: Was sailing through qualifying, winning its first pair of outings. On matchday three, however, the Ticos were forced to rally from an early deficit at Jamaica to earn a 1-1 draw thanks to Johnny Acosta’s 67th minute goal. The sides met again four days later in San Jose and the host responded to potential adversity with an impressive 3-0 win. Celso Borges (6’) and Bryan Ruiz (37’) netted in the first half, while Johan Venegas (77’) put the match out of reach in the second half.
FAST FACTS
Trinidad & Tobago
- Qualified for only one FIFA World Cup, playing in Germany 2006 after overcoming Bahrain in a two-match playoff, 2-1 on aggregate.
- Current forward Kenwyne Jones appeared in two matches at the 2006 World Cup (entered as a first-half substitute in 2-0 loss v Paraguay … started and played 70 minutes in 2-0 loss v England)
- Competing in fourth Hexagonal.
Costa Rica
- Qualified for four FIFA World Cups (1990, 2002, 2006, 2014), advancing as far as the quarterfinals in 2014, before falling to the Netherlands on penalty kicks (4-3), after a scoreless draw.
- Keylor Navas was the starting goalkeeper the last time Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago met in World Cup Qualifying, a 4-0-win for the host Ticos on October 10, 2009, at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in Tibas, San Jose, Costa Rica.
- One of three teams to reach each of the previous five Hexagonal editions.
