KAISERSLAUTERN:

By the time Brent Sancho saw the ball, it had already glanced off his head and into the Trinidad and Tobago net.

For a team that was unable to score a goal the entire World Cup, that was enough to end whatever slim chances it had of advancing to the second round. “These things happen probably 50 million times a day in football,” Sancho said. “It’s unfortunate.”

Trinidad and Tobago never recovered from Sancho’s own goal in the 25th minute and lost 2-0 to Paraguay.

The play started after a foul by Cornell Glen. Roberto Acuna swung in a free kick that Julio Dos Santos got his head on. The ball then deflected off Sancho’s head and was redirected past keeper Kelvin Jack and into the net.

Trinidad came into the match with slim hopes, needing a win against Paraguay, an England win over Sweden and help on goal differential to qualify for the tournament’s last 16. — AFP