ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago rescued their CFU Caribbean Cup hopes when they beat the Dominican Republic to reach the semi-finals and qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in five years. In a must-win encounter at the Antigua Recreation Ground, T&T got goals on either side of halftime from Kevon Carter and Kevin Molino, to cancel out Kerbi Rodriguez’s goal early in the second half.
The victory left T&T in second place on four points in Group A at the end of the preliminary round, with Haiti topping the standings with seven points after edging Antigua and Barbuda 1-0.
Antigua and the Dominican Republic both finished on three points to be eliminated.
Needing a win following their shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Antigua in their opening game on Sunday, T&T started positively when Carter opened the scoring in the 14th minute, capitalising on an error by goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd.
Dominican Republic then pressed for the equaliser and twice came close when Rodriguez had a goal waved off for off-side in the 36th minute and Jonathan Frias had a close range shot saved by goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams a minute later.
Down 1-0 at halftime, they eventually found the equaliser in the 52nd minute when Rodriguez finally found the target after he was set up by Frias.
On their way out of the tournament, T&T found a hero in substitute Molino who slotted home from close range, after Curtis Gonzales’s first shot had been parried.
In the feature game, the Antiguans had their hearts broken through an early Jean-Philippe Peguero strike. A rebound landed fortuitously at his feet after goalkeeper Molvin James had saved from Leonel St Preux, and the 27-year-old calmly finished off the opportunity.
The last round of preliminary games was due to be played last night when French Guyana faced Martinique and title holders Jamaica clashed with Cuba in the feature game.