Aiming for better.
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart believed T&T let their foot off the gas after pushing ahead of El Salvador on a Keon Daniel goal in Monday’s opening CONCACAF Gold Cup fixture at the Red Bull Arena.
Speaking after the 2-2 draw, Hart said T&T must now try to improve on some of its weak areas that were evident on the night.
“I thought we showed them a bit too much respect and they were the better team in the first half. We scored early but we did not hold on to that advantage. We did not protect the ball well enough and we seemed to have a bit of nerves in the first half,” Hart said.
“We had a better second half. Both teams created some good chances and there was some good goalkeeping at both ends. Maybe we were fortunate when they hit the woodwork a couple times but we also had a couple very good opportunities to go ahead in the second half.”
Hart mentioned that T&T would regroup ahead of Friday’s clash with Haiti in Miami.
“We’ve got to look at some of the areas which need to be improved on get the team ready again for Friday. Of course we will address some of the weak areas and go at it again on Friday.”
Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones was happy to have helped T&T earn a point.
“It’s always a great feeling to score for your country and particularly where it helped us get a point tonight. Obviously we would have preferred the three points but one point is not a bad result to start the tournament,” Jones said.
Skipper Densill Theobald added: “We had some good moments but we also struggled a bit with their style of play and passing in the first half. We ourselves did not pass the ball that well but we had a better second half and hopefully we can maintain this performance from the second half going into the match against Haiti on Friday.
“The work rate from the guys tonight was exceptional I thought and this was very pleasing to the eyes. We would have liked to avoid conceding two goals as well as put away our chances but it’s not bad a start and I think this game will put us in better shape for the next two,” said Theobald.
Ipswich Town midfielder Carlos Edwards wanted the win badly.
“I’m still bothered by the result. Even thought we equalized this time it brings back some memories from the draw in 2009 a bit because we also scored first in that game. We had a couple really good chances to get ahead in the second half.
I didn’t connect with my two chances as well I wanted to but I’m pleased we were able to get two good goals and get off the mark. That’s important in the first game and now we’ll try to build on it heading into the game on Friday in Miami.”