Pandemonium swept through the capital city on Tuesday as thousands of World Cup fans were given leave from work early to view the historical football match between Trinidad and Tobago and Paraguay.

Several businesses and even schools, both primary and secondary, were closed early to allow fans ample time to view the game.

Fans queuing up for maxis to get home to
see TnT play.

The Bankers’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago, along with M&M Insurance, went as far as to place ads in the daily newspapers about their early closing times due to the football match in Germany.

The nation’s main transit centre at City Gate, Port of Spain was in complete chaos, as passengers seemed to outnumber maxis at the hub.

The Arima Bus Route section was the worst as hundreds of desperate passengers lined the curb, some reaching as far as the drivers’ entrance to the hub awaiting transport.

Several others stood in the maxis’ drive path to block the vehicles from driving off before they stampeded into the maxis.

The scene was similar at other taxi-stands.

However, when the game started at 2.45 p.m., most taxi-drivers had already pulled off the road to view the match, leaving thousands of people stranded until the game was over.

While some fought for transport to head home, others relaxed in the comfort of electronic stores and other businessplaces equipped with televisions to view the game.

Their joy turned to sorrow when defender Brent Sancho headed a goal into his own TnT net.

That header was the first of two goals scored against the Soca Warriors, which lead to their defeat.