Molino and Marvin farewell ends with baffling 2-2 tie, as T&T close WCQ campaign against Bermuda

So, what was the score? Did we win?

The confusion among Trinidad and Tobago football supporters as they streamed out of the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain last night was remarkable, with the scoreboard vacillating before deciding on a result that was at odds with what was reported elsewhere—including on Concacaf’s website.

But the final score against Bermuda, according to American match commissioner Yohannes Worede and the Trinidad and Tobago coaching staff, was 2-2. The Soca Warriors closed their 2026 World Cup qualifying with a draw against the group’s whipping boys.

(The controversial point is the only one Bermuda managed at this stage.)

Elsewhere in Jamaica, coach Steve McClaren resigned his post at the helm of the “Reggae Boyz” after their goalless draw with Curaçao condemned the hosts to Inter-confederation play offs.

Curaçao, with a population of roughly 150,000 persons, will now be the smallest nation to ever play in the World Cup—ironically, at the same time that Trinidad and Tobago fans suggest their most pressing issue is the size of their player pool.

But then these are confusing times. Did we win 2-1, or draw 2-2?

Would either result be satisfactory—or is one just worse than the other?

Last night’s outing was, in some respects, an entertaining affair. Bermuda might be short on quality but they are big on adventure and ambition, while Trinidad and Tobago coach Dwight Yorke fielded a front three, plus a playmaker, Kevin Molino, plus a right back, Déron Payne, who functioned like an auxiliary winger.

Trinidad and Tobago enjoyed 67% ball possession and managed 22 shots, but they also allowed 11 shots. Both goalkeepers made six saves.

So, the Warriors did more than enough on the offensive end to win the game. However, they were also porous enough to lose it.

What a strange time to be a Trinidad and Tobago football fan then. Is this what progress looks like? Are you sure that’s the score?

With Trinidad and Tobago certain to finish third in the four-team group and miss out on both a World Cup place and the Fifa play-offs, Yorke made seven changes to the starting team that faced Jamaica.

Defender Justin Garcia and winger Tyrese Spicer were both said to be carrying knocks, while full back Andre Raymond, midfielder Daniel Phillips, goalkeeper Denzil Smith and attackers Levi Garcia and Dante Sealy were simply rested.

In their places came Steffen Yeates, Real Gill, Noah Powder, Molino, Marvin Phillip, Ryan Telfer and Nathaniel James respectively.

For the 35-year-old Molino and 41-year-old Phillip, the game marked the end of illustrious international careers—as both announced their impending retirements before kickoff.

Last night’s qualifier was Phillip’s 100^th full senior international cap. The former Princes Town Secondary custodian represented the Red, White and Black at the 2021 Under-17 World Cup.

His four World Cup qualifying sheets (two against Barbados and one apiece against Guyana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) are bettered only by Clayton Ince (12) and Michael Maurice (9).

Molino, a two-time World Youth Cup player, bid farewell on the occasion of his 75^th full senior international cap. Only Stern John (70), Angus Eve (34), Russell Latapy (29) and Arnold Dwarika (28) have scored more than Molino’s 27 goals for Trinidad and Tobago.

In World Cup qualifying action, Molino managed six goals, which is joint sixth among Trinidad and Tobago’s top marksmen:

(T&T World Cup Goal Scorers)

• 20—Stern John,
• 16—Steve David,
• 12—Angus Eve,
• 9—Russell Latapy, Dwight Yorke,
• 6—Kenwyne Jones, Noel Llewellyn, Kevin Molino,
• 5—Marvin Andrews, Warren Archibald, Keon Daniel, Arnold Dwarika, Levi Garcia, Joevin Jones.

And when Kobi Henry put the Warriors ahead in the first meaningful attack in the ninth minute, with a towering header off a Noah Powder free kick, it seemed as though the stage was set for an enjoyable going-away party.

Boy, were we wrong on that score.

Payne should have doubled Trinidad and Tobago’s advantage in the 24^th minute, but failed to get the ball past Bermuda goalkeeper Milai Perott. Molino also had a half-volley denied by the Bermudan custodian off an inch perfect James cross in the 29^th minute.

And the tricky Gill was thwarted by Perott and then a goalline clearance from defender Harry Twite, as the Warriors ended the first half with a slender lead.

There were less than 5,000 patrons inside the stadium at kickoff, although another 2,000 turned up before the restart.

Bermuda also appeared to show up late. The visitors were buzzing at the start of the second half and there was nothing fluky about their equaliser in the 59^th minute, as midfielder Ne-Jai Tucker Tucker’s angled shot squirmed under Phillip from inside the Trinidad and Tobago box.

Then came the “ghost goal” in the 64^th minute. Giant defender Dante Leverock headed an inswinging corner towards goal, and, as Phillip fended away the initial attempt, forward Djair Parfitt converted the rebound.

Bermuda celebrated. But externally, the television crew thought the effort was overruled for offside and did not show Trinidad and Tobago restarting the match at the halfway line.

Two minutes later, the host replied, as substitute Wayne Frederick II neatly flicked a pass from Molino into James’s path. And James buried the opportunity.

Inside the stadium, Trinidad and Tobago had levelled. Everywhere else, it was considered a go-ahead goal.

The Warriors could not get another. Frederick, who had a memorable cameo, came close to engineering the winner—first with a clever trick and cross to James that the diminutive could not squeeze home, and then with an effort that Perott kept out with his fingertips.

But the game ended 2-2.

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards formally recognised Molino and Phillip at full-time while there were banners in recognition of defender Sheldon Bateau and utility player Joevin Jones too—although the latter too have not yet declared time on their own careers.

McClaren has gone. But Yorke has another six months to run on his deal.

Presumably the TTFA must decide in that period whether they can afford to keep him and if they want to—and what to do if only one of those questions gets an affirmative answer.

Trinidad and Tobago have not lost any of their five competitive outings at home under Yorke, while their only competitive defeats on the road were against the United States, Costa Rica and Jamaica.

On the negative side, the Warriors won only one of five games in the Concacaf third round—and that was against Bermuda. And their only competitive wins from 13 outings came against Cuba (twice), Saint Kitts and Nevis and Bermuda.

Make of that what you will.

Trinidad and Tobago’s 2026 World Cup adventure is definitely over, no matter what score you read—finished on a damp night, in front of thousands of empty seats, with a strong anti-climactic air.

Which way from here, then?

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Marvin Phillip (GK); 2.Déron Payne, 3.Kobi Henry, 4.Jerrin Jackie, 23.Noah Powder (6.Andre Raymond 70); 7.Steffen Yeates (13.Daniel David 78), 18.Andre Rampersad (8.Daniel Phillips 78), 10.Kevin Molino (captain); 12.Ryan Telfer (14.Wayne Frederick II 61),  9.Nathaniel James, 20.Real Gill (19.Kaïlé Auvray 61).

Unused substitutes: 21.Jabari Brice (GK), 22.Denzil Smith (GK), 5.Lindell Sween, 11.Levi Garcia, 15.Dante Sealy, 16.Isaiah Garcia, 17.Justin Garcia.

Coach: Dwight Yorke.

Bermuda (4-3-3): 22.Milai Perott (GK); 7.Lejaun Simmons (3.Eusebio Blankendal 86), 16.Dante Leverock, 17.Harry Twite, 15.Daniel Cook; 13.Keziah Martin, 5.Ne-jai Tucker, 8.Aunde Todd (4.Roger Lee 76); 10.Zeiko Lewis (14.Jace Donawa 69), 9.Enrique Russell (21.Donovan Thompson 86), 11.Djair Parfitt (2.Logan Jimenez 86).

Unused substitutes: 1.Dale Eve (GK), 12.Detre Bell (GK), 23.Coleridge Fubler (GK), 6.Riley Robinson, 18.Brighton Morrison, 19.Reggie Lambe, 20.Rahzir Smith-Jones.

Coach: Michael Findlay

Referee: Jose Torres (Puerto Rico).