TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO reached the World Cup finals for the first time in their history after beating Bahrain.

Bahrain had secured a 1-1 draw in the Caribbean on Saturday, but were outplayed in the play-off's second leg.

Wrexham's giant defender Dennis Lawrence scored the goal, outjumping the Bahrain defence to powerfully head in a Dwight Yorke corner on 49 minutes.

In the closing stages Russell Latapy rattled the bar for Trinidad, while Hussain Ali Baba was red-carded.

In a scrappy first-half Bahrain keeper Ali Hassan made a brave save, throwing himself at Stern John's feet, after the on-loan Derby striker broke clear.

Bahrain struggled throughout against a physically stronger Trinidad team, with the home side's best chance stemming from Kelvin Jack's misjudgment in coming for a high ball five minutes before the interval.

The Trinidad keeper was rescued by Rangers defender Marvin Andrews who cleared the danger.

After Lawrence's goal Ahmed Hassan's low curling free-kick hit the side-netting, though Jack had the shot covered.

In chaotic scenes at the end Ali Baba was dismissed after referee Oscar Ruiz was man-handled.

The Bahrainis had been furious the referee disallowed an Ahmed Hassan goal when he kicked the ball out of Jack's hands.

Bahrain coach Luka Peruzovic did not rule out an appeal to Fifa appeal over the disallowed goal.

"I want to make myself 100 %t sure of what happened before advising the Bahrain Football Association," said Peruzovic.

"We will watch the action replay before taking any decision."

Moments after the sending off Jack made up for his earlier eccentric keeping when he spectacualrly tipped over the bar a Talal Yusuf shot.

With a population of just over one million Trinidad will be the least populated country taking part in the 2006 finals in Germany.

Trinidad are only the fourth Caribbean side to reach the finals following Cuba in 1938, Haiti in 1974 and Jamaica in 1998.

"It was a very tough match and it was difficult logistically to get the players ready for such an important match after all that travelling," said Trinidad coach Leo Beenhakker.

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).