Monday, May 29, 2006

by Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

GRAZ, Austria: Trinidad and Tobago suffered a minor set-back in their preparation for next month's World Cup in Germany after they were beaten by an inexperienced Wales side in their latest warm-up match at the UPC-Arena in Graz on Saturday.

The Soca Warriors, who started with eight British-based players on the pitch, went down 2-1 to a Welsh side that included six of the country's under-20 players, including Kenwyne Jones' Southampton sixteen-year-old teammate Gareth Bale.

"Apart from the result, we can be satisfied," Beenhakker told NCC Channel 4. "For the moment, I realise and also the players realise that we still have a lot of work to do.

"On the other side, (there are) certain parts of the game I was very happy with. So it will come."

Stern John put Trinidad ahead from a Chris Birchall free kick after James Collins gave away the spot kick in 32nd minute of play.

The Welsh side drew level five minutes later from a Robert Earnshaw strike, before the same striker secured the victory for his team with a second goal in the dying minutes of the game. He forced home a cross past Trinidadian goal keeper Kelvin Jack from Gareth Bale, who became Wales' youngest ever senior international at just 16.

The Caribbean side, who came into the game heavy favourites after beating Iceland 2-0, and drawing 1-1 with Peru, before beating Austria Vienna 3-2 in a training match last Tuesday, will continue their preparation for Germany by playing another friendly international on Wednesday.

Trinidad and Tobago are grouped with England, Paraguay and Sweden for the opening stages of the 2006 World Cup tournament.

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