Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Draw With Trinidad in Qualifying

On This Day in 1989, Charles' Late Equalizer Stuns USA in World Cup Qualifying

The dream of returning to soccer's grandest stage after a 40-year absence hung in the balance as the United States Men's National Team continued their treacherous journey through CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The path had already proven perilous for a young American squad still finding its identity under coach Bob Gansler. A disappointing 1-0 loss in Costa Rica had been partially redeemed by a dramatic 1-0 victory in the return fixture in St. Louis, where Tab Ramos' deflected goal and David Vanole's heroic penalty save in the final seconds had given the team new life and confidence.

With Costa Rica setting the early pace in the five-team CONCACAF final round with four points, the Americans knew their home matches would be crucial. As Trinidad and Tobago prepared to visit for their group stage opener, the United States players understood the stakes perfectly – securing all available points at home would be essential if they hoped to claim one of the two coveted World Cup berths.

The build-up to the May 13, 1989, clash was marked by unusual drama. Oliver Camps, Trinidad and Tobago's outspoken manager, had boldly guaranteed victory on American soil – a proclamation Vanole found particularly motivating.

"Making predictions that they're going to win is not right, especially in our home country," the goalkeeper said before the match. "I could see them making predictions at home, but not here. We respect them, but we're at home and we should win. That will just help us focus."

The pre-match tension escalated further when sprinklers mysteriously activated during Trinidad and Tobago's practice session at Torrance Park, soaking the visiting players and interrupting their training. Coach Everald Cummings, a former NASL star with the Atlanta Chiefs and New York Cosmos, immediately suspected foul play.

"Maybe they thought we shouldn't be training, so they put on the sprinklers to get rid of us," Cummings complained. "What was strange was that the sprinklers went on in the middle of the field from one goal to the next. They came on because somebody knew what they were doing." While Gansler vehemently denied involvement, the incident added another layer of intrigue to a match that was already significant.

Trinidad and Tobago entered the qualifier riding momentum from their impressive qualifying campaign thus far. After defeating Guyana 4-0 and 1-0 in the first round, they had advanced past Honduras in the second round with a pair of draws, winning the tiebreaker by scoring an away goal. The Caribbean side remained confident after missing forward Richard Chinapoo, who was committed to a Dallas Sidekicks playoff game in the Major Indoor Soccer League. 

On a brisk, overcast afternoon, approximately 10,000 fans filed into Murdock Stadium on the campus of El Camino College, located about 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Among them were several hundred passionate Trinidad and Tobago supporters who brought drums, cowbells, and boundless enthusiasm to the modest venue. The hard, bumpy field – with grass that clearly needed cutting – seemed an unlikely stage for such a crucial international contest. Yet as the teams took the field, the atmosphere crackled with tension befitting the match's importance.

From the opening whistle, the Americans controlled possession but struggled to break down Trinidad and Tobago's organized defense. The visitors showed their physical talent early, with Marvin Faustin creating their best chance of the half when he broke away on the left side, feinted past an American defender, and unleashed a rocket shot that required a spectacular save from Vanole, who tipped the ball over the crossbar.

The United States nearly claimed an early lead in the seventh minute when an apparent handball violation in the Trinidad penalty area went undetected by Italian referee Luigi Agnolin, much to the displeasure of the American players and fans. The Americans' most glaring missed opportunity came in the 32nd minute when John Harkes delivered an excellent cross that eluded the Trinidad and Tobago defense, including goalkeeper Earl Carter. The ball found Bruce Murray unmarked at the far post with a gaping net in front of him, but somehow the midfielder steered his shot wide from just three feet away, drawing groans from the American supporters.

About five minutes later, Harkes narrowly missed on a 15-yard shot off an indirect kick, adding to the growing frustration as the teams reached halftime locked in a scoreless draw.

The halftime break did little to disrupt the United States' momentum, and just three minutes into the second half, they found their breakthrough. Tab Ramos, the skilled midfielder who had scored the winner against Costa Rica two weeks earlier, controlled a high pass before floating the ball skillfully into the goalmouth.

Defender Steve Trittschuh, who had played on the 1988 Olympic team, trapped the ball expertly with his chest, turned, and fired a powerful shot into the roof of the Trinidad net from close range. The Trinidad players appeared caught flat-footed, perhaps expecting an offside call that never came from referee Agnolin.

The goal energized the American team and their supporters, who sensed a crucial victory was within reach. With the lead secured, the Americans seemingly retreated into a defensive shell. Vanole continued his strong performance in the 59th minute when, leaning the other way, he managed to get a leg on a shot by Russell Latapy to preserve the advantage.

The United States appeared on course for its second consecutive World Cup qualifying victory as the match entered its final minutes. However, in the 88th minute, disaster struck for the home side.

Trinidad and Tobago's increased offensive pressure finally paid dividends when Clayton Morris found Marlon Morris on the right flank. Morris executed what Vanole would later describe as a "dummy play" that deceived two American defenders and the goalkeeper himself. With the American defense in disarray, Hutson Charles suddenly found himself with space, whirled around a defender, and fired a low shot past Vanole from about 20 yards.

"It all happened so fast," lamented Vanole afterward. "After playing such a good game, it hurts to let that one go. They had to take chances 'cause they wanted to leave here with a tie. It paid off when it had to... It was a good play, a dummy play... I just blew it."

Long after disconsolate American fans had filed out of Murdock Stadium, the drums and cowbells continued their celebratory rhythms in the stands as Trinidad and Tobago's supporters reveled in their team's last-gasp heroics. The draw left the United States with a 1-1-1 record and 3 points in the qualifying tournament, behind Costa Rica, which led with 4 points from a 2-2 record. Guatemala stood third with 2 points from a 1-1 record, while Trinidad and Tobago's debut tie gave them 1 point. El Salvador had yet to play its first match in the group.

"I can't explain it," said a visibly frustrated Gansler of the late defensive lapse. "I guess we think that after we score, we have it won, and we let up."

The tie made the United States the first team in the group not to win a home match – a worrying sign for their qualification prospects. With away matches looming on the horizon, Gansler delivered a sobering assessment of his young team's performance: "We have to make better decisions if we're going to stay in the hunt. The tactical discipline is not what it should be. We have young players who sometimes don't make the right decisions."

For Ramos, who had grown up in New Jersey during the heyday of the New York Cosmos when crowds of 70,000 regularly filled Giants Stadium, the stakes couldn't be higher. The 22-year-old midfielder, born in Uruguay before moving to the United States at age 8, understood all too well what qualification for the World Cup would mean for soccer in America.

"If we don't qualify, it will be incredibly bad for the sport," Ramos explained in the weeks following the match. "There'd be really nothing left to look forward to. But if we do make it to Italy, our games will be on TV, and people back home can watch them. It will be devastating if we don't qualify."

Before their crucial upcoming qualifier against Guatemala in New Britain, Connecticut, on June 17, the United States would receive a much-needed confidence boost by defeating Portugal's Benfica 2-1 in the Marlboro Cup at Giants Stadium, with Trittschuh once again finding the net. That victory, against one of Europe's most storied clubs, provided some reassurance that this young American team could still navigate the challenging road to Italia '90.

"We keep preaching to the young men that we learn by winning," Gansler said after the friendly victory, "and a win against teams of this caliber is a confidence booster."

For the United States Men's National Team, the journey to qualify for their first World Cup in 40 years remained fraught with challenges. The heartbreaking concession against Trinidad and Tobago had made their path significantly more difficult. However, with five qualifying matches remaining, hope persisted that American soccer could finally return to the world's biggest stage.

No comments:

Post a Comment