Trinidad and Tobago pride was evident everywhere as Havana bacame "Party City" for 50 or so Trinis on Wednesday night.
Just about 5,000 Cubans turned up at the 28,000-capacity stadium, despite a special entrance fee of one Cuban peso for the locals. On the other hand, T&T media covering the event had to fork out 120 pesos (US$120) for accreditation for the game.
Among the Trinidad and Tobago nationals travelling to the match was Louis Lee Sing, who was part of the I95.5 team, one of two T&T radio stations that carried live coverage.
Also present were Darryl and Darian Warner, along with their father, FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation special adviser Jack Warner, while former World Cup referee Ramesh Ramdhan was also packed in among the Trinis.
It was a far cry from the plane load that descended on Bahrain on the eve of Trinidad and Tobago's historic qualification for the 2006 World Cup two years ago. But, it is only going to get bigger as the qualifying campaign continues as some are already planning for the Warriors' next away game, a trip to Chicago, the Windy City, to face the United States on September 10.
Before that, T&T face Guatemala in their first home match on September 6 in Port of Spain, where another victory will put them in an excellent position before the treacherous trip to meet the Americans at Soldier Field.
Two nights ago, the Trinis got every cent's worth of their airfare to Cuba from the time Tobago-born midfielder Keon Daniel put the Soca Warriors into a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute, finding the inside of the far post with a well-placed shot from the left.
Soon after, the Cubans were jumping in their seats, believing that burly striker Roberto Linares had pulled them level, but he was called offside and his goal from inside the penalty area was disallowed.
For five minutes, though, the score-board still read 1-1.
Instead, Daniel silenced the Cubans when netting one of his trademark free-kicks 15 minutes into the second half, to put T&T into a 2-0 lead.
And lone striker Cornell Glen worked his pants off before getting the goal he deserved when scoring with a low shot from inside the area in the 67th minute.
It was not as easy for Trinidad and Tobago as the score suggested at that point. Cuba put up a hell of a fight and are going to upset someone before these qualifiers are over.
The home team deserved to score and defender Jeniel Molina gave them a consolation goal in the 87th when netting from inside the area.
The Cuban fans were ecstatic and spurred on the Cuban Lions who poured pressure on the visitors in the dying moments.
Marvin Phillip was a huge hero in goal for T&T on the night, making at least half-dozen stops, some breathtaking. And Clyde Leon conjured up his own miracle when putting on enough pressure to force Molina to head wide at the back post near the end.
Had he gotten a second goal, the final few minutes of added-on time would have been hell for Trinidad and Tobago.
Overall, it was an excellent performance by the Soca Warriors, every player coming good on the night.
Early in the match, Cuba showed all the signs of a team that had been well prepared after a month in Germany. Aggressive and pacy, they looked dangerous, every one of their attacks being a hair-raising moment.
However, Trinidad and Tobago had the first chance, when Coventry City midfielder Chris Birchall found Daniel, who in attempting to pick out Glen in the centre of goal hit the ball wide.
Seconds later, Trini hearts fluttered when Linares, the dangerous Cuban striker, easily wiggled past Swansea defender Dennis Lawrence and headed to goal.
Phillip produced another miracle, first smothering the shot, then collecting on the second attempt. Brilliant save! And T&T fans jumped in the stands. It was the first of several big saves Phillip made before the night ended.
Francisco Maturana, T&T's Colombian head coach, again used the 4-5-1 formation, with Glen alone up front.
Maturana would have been slightly uneasy with the end-to-end stuff. It was the OK Corral shootout and the Warriors were facing heavier fire.
Birchall was the liveliest of the T&T midfielders, before going off injured and being replaced by Khaleem Hyland just before the first half ended.
Earlier in the half, Birchall, together with Daniel,
Leon, Densill Theobald and Anthony Wolfe were eventually able to knock a few passes, using their experience to slow the game to a more comfortable pace.
Trinidad and Tobago looked most dangerous up the left and eventually Daniel collected a ball over the top and hit a powerful left footer high inside the far post to put the Warriors ahead. The goal came a little against the run of play, but T&T were in front.
Cuba, though, continued to torment and Phillip was twice tested from an angle and only just got there in time to turn over a free-kick from the nippy Jensee Sallez that looked to be sneaking into the goal.
Trinidad and Tobago's defensive quartet of Lawrence, Cyd Gray, Avery John and Makan Hislop worked hard all night, but, as the match wore on, restricted the Cubans to shots from outside the box.
Pacy Glenn looked almost back to his best up front. He was a handful until replaced in the second half by Turkish-based striker Darryl Roberts.
Maturana has been under fire for using locally-based players ahead of some of the international pros and the Colombian did so again, starting eight of the nine T&T Pro League players in the squad.
He stuck to his guns and on Wednesday came out still standing. Bravo!