Trinidad & Tobago qualified for their first-ever appearance at the World Cup finals, defeating Bahrain 1-0 in Manama to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory over the Gulf side and book their place in Germany next year.

Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence scored the only goal of the game four minutes after half-time with a free header from Dwight Yorke's corner to send the Caribbean nation into the finals and earn the CONCACAF region a fourth World Cup spot.

Lawrence's goal came in a frenetic closing 45 minutes after a scrappy opening in which the best chance fell to the visitors.

Having lost Port Vale midfielder Christopher Birchall to an ankle injury midway through the first half, Trinidad went close 13 minutes before the break, but Bahrain goalkeeper Ali Hassan was equal to the task.

Stern John did well to control Marvin Andrews' ball into the penalty area from deep on the right flank, but the Derby County striker's shot was diverted for a corner by the custodian, who was quickly off his line to avert the danger.

John's opportunity was one of few clear-cut chances in an untidy first half and was the only time the home defence came close to being breached during the opening spell.

The same could not be said of the Trinidad back line, which was often its own worst enemy.

Sayed Mohammed's speculative shot from just inside his own half eight minutes into the game was fumbled over the bye line by Trinidad keeper Kelvin Jack and from the resultant corner Ala'a Hubail's shot was blocked by the visiting defence.

Trinidad's suspect defence - primarily due to their inability to deal with high balls - was again highlighted as the clock ran down on the first half. An error by Andrews six minutes from the break gave Hussein Ali time and space to shoot from the edge of the area, but the Al Gharafah striker was woefully off target.

A minute later another ball pumped into the area from deep caused consternation in the Trinidad defence, this time goalkeeper Jack misreading the flight of the ball only for Andrews to bail him out by heading behind for a corner before the lurking Ali could capitalise.

The game opened up more in the second half, and, with four minutes gone, Trinidad claimed the goal they so desperately needed, Lawrence rising above the flatfooted home defence to head powerfully past Ali Hassan.

Two minutes later Trinidad would have made it 2-0 but for the heroics of Hassan, who parried John's shot to relative safety as the Derby man bore down on goal.

Lawrence's goal gave Trinidad a much needed confidence boost, allowing Leo Beenhakker's team to control proceedings.

The Bahrainis still threatened on the break, however, and the nation's star striker, Ala'a Hubail, should have equalised on the hour mark, but the Al Gharafah striker - who has only recently returned from a serious knee injury - was just too slow to react to Talal Yousef's headed flick across the face of goal.

Substitute Russell Lapaty should have wrapped the game up for Trinidad with 10 minutes to go, but the Falkirk striker hit the crossbar despite having the time and space to score.

Tempers flared as Trinidad ran down the clock and the Caribbean side held on to record a famous win as Hussein Ali was sent off following an altercation with the referee that involved the majority of his team-mates.

Teams

Bahrain Hussein Ali Hassan, Salman (Ayesh 80), Adnan, Ali Baba, Abdulkarim, Ala'a Hubail, Mohamed Hubail, Jalal, Juma, Yusuf, Ahmed Hassan.

Subs Not Used: Al Kawari, Alhujairi, Farhan, Jaffar, Meshkhas, Ahmed Taleb.

Sent Off: Ali Baba (90).

Booked: Mohamed Hubail, Ala'a Hubail.

Trinidad and Tobago Jack, Avery John, Andrews, Lawrence, Birchall (Spann 21), Whitley, Edwards (Cox 83), Stern John, Jones (Latapy 77), Yorke, Gray.

Subs Not Used: Glenn, Hislop, Scotland, Theobold.

Booked: Yorke, Gray, Latapy.

Goals: Lawrence 49. Agg (1-2)

Ref: Julian Oscar Ruiz Acosta (Colombia).