- August, 12 2009 -
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PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Cornell Glen scored in the seventh minute and Trinidad & Tobago prevailed over El Salvador 1-0 Wednesday night to win its first game in final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
The result left both teams with five points, at the bottom of the “hexagonal” standings with four games remaining. Three teams automatically will qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa next year with the fourth-placed team earning a chance for a fourth berth in a playoff against a South American side.
Glen capitalized after a poorly taken free kick opportunity by Osael Romero bounded away. Glen raced down the left, running away from Ramon Flores and finally eluding Manuel Salazar before beating Salvadoran keeper Miguel Montes with a low left-footed shot inside the far post.
The match saw the debut of American-born midfielder Arturo Alvarez for El Salvador to start the second half. The 24-year-old Alvarez, who plays for the San Jose Earthquakes, was born in Houston to Salvadoran parents and played at the under-17, U-18, and U-20 levels for the United States. He also had trained with the U.S. U-23 team but changed his allegiance earlier this year after FIFA altered its rules allowing players a one-time switch.
Both sides have several chances. Trinidad’s Carlos Edwards sent a lofted free kick off the topside of the crossbar in 40th minute, and 30 seconds later Montes had to race off his line to thwart a quickly closing and unmarked Keon Daniel.
Eliseo Quintanilla and Romero both put shots wide in the first 26 minutes, but El Salvador’s best opportunity probably was a sliding volley from inside the penalty area in the 69th by second-half substitute Enrique Rodriguez that went straight to the feet of Trinidad keeper Clayton Ince. Rodolfo Zelaya had a similar chance 13 minutes later that Ince was able to partially block with his feet and secured the save by sitting on the ball.
Trinidad must next travel to Honduras on September 5 and then host the United States four days later. El Salvador will next face the United States near Salt Lake City and return home to play Costa Rica.
