Jamille Boatswain (#20) scored for Trinidad & Tobago in an international friendly against visiting Grenada on November 11, 2017, in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo: CA-Images)
COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago – A month after eliminating the United States from 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying with a 2-1 win at Ato Boldon Stadium, Trinidad & Tobago found itself down 2-0 to visiting Grenada in an international friendly at the same venue on Saturday night.
The Soca Warriors, however, summoned some of the fighting spirit that earned them that momentous victory, rallying for a 2-2 draw on late goals by Jamille Boatswain and Kevin Molino.
Head coach Dennis Lawrence expressed satisfaction with his team’s ability to rebound.
“I want to complement the players and the character they showed to get back into that game the way they did,” said the 43-year-old. “Obviously, we were disappointed to concede two goals in the manner that we did, but the character that they showed to get something out of the game was pleasing.
“Football is a game that things happen. You have to respond and the boys responded well.”
It was the second time this year that the sides played to a 2-2 tie, with the first coming in Grenada on April 29.
“I thought Grenada were very, very well organized; made it extremely difficult for us,” Lawrence remarked. “We did not execute some of the passes correctly and we were a bit sloppy in some of the possession. We just needed to correct some of the mistakes we were making in possession of the ball.”
T&T will have the opportunity to continue working on its game as another friendly against visiting Guyana – also at Ato Boldon Stadium -- approaches Tuesday.
“Now we move on to Tuesday against Guyana,” finished Lawrence. “Hopefully, we can improve…not just with the performance, but we can improve with the result.”
