T&T exacted sweet revenge over the United States at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva last night.
They waited over 28 years for their moment, it didn't put them on the road to the World Cup in Russia, but a 2-1 victory ensured that the USA would not travel there either.
T&T upset the apple cart in the 17th minute when right winger Nathan Lewis and his supporting full-back Alvin Jones worked an overlap before Jones' low cross was inadvertently flicked into his own net by USA's Omar Gonzalez under pressure from T&T's Shahdon Winchester.
Twenty minutes later the US conceded again, as full back Jones received the ball wide on the right 15 yards into the US half and with few options ahead, Jones, who can really hit them, drilled a meaty shot goal-ward which bubbled, swerved and flew past US goalie Tim Howard's flapping arms and into the far corner.
In the second half it didn't take the US long to cut the deficit, as Christian Pulisic side-stepped Kevan George at the top of the T&T area and then drilled a right-footed shot into the roof of the net in the 47th minute.
But that was the only solace the US got. With no points from the match, USA dropped to fifth on the six-team table and were dumped out of Russia. Just as T&T needed only a draw in 1989 to qualify for the Italy World Cup, the visitors needed at a point last night to reach Russia. But they got neither thanks to Jones, who can now tell Strike Squad skipper Clayton Morris he has delivered payback to the USA.
Teams:
T&T: Adrian Foncette, Curtis Gonzales, Daneil Cyrus, Tristan Hodge, Alvin Jones, Khaleem Hyland, Leston Paul, Kevan George, Levi García, Nathan Lewis, Shahdon Winchester; (Subs) Kevon Villaroel, Joevin Jones, Trevin Caesar
USA: Tim Howard, Matt Besler, Omar González, Michael Bradley, Jorge Villafaña, DeAndre Yedlin, Christian Pulisic, Darlington Nagbe, Paul Arriola, Bobby Wood, Jozy Altidore; (Subs) Kellyn Acosta, Benny Feilhaber, Clint Dempsey