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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Dwight Yorke said two errors, which led to the second and third goals for the United States, killed his team’s chances of getting a favourable result from their opening 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup fixture yesterday evening at the PayPal Park in San Jose.
USA opened the scoring in the 16th minute after attacker Malik Tillman benefited from a turnover by Trinidad and Tobago defender Alvin Jones. However, Yorke noted that the host team’s next two goals, which came in the 41st and 44th minutes, were more deflating.
USA won the Gold Cup opener 5-0.
“We prepared thoroughly to frustrate the Americans as long as possible,” said Yorke, in the post-game press conference. “Once we conceded and settled down a little bit, I felt that we would have been able to hold off America until half time because we needed to make some tactical changes.
“[But we conceded goals in the 41st and 44th minutes and] those were two gifts. At 1-0, we felt that we would have been in the game…
“From there on, we were always going to be playing catch up.”
Photo: Doug Zimmerman/ Isi Photos.
Jones was at fault for USA’s second goal as well, which was also scored by Tillman, while the third came off a 6k with playmaker Diego Luna stepping inside Jones to score via a crucial deflection from forward Patrick Agyemang.
Even when the United States were not scoring, though, their control of proceedings was virtually unchallenged. At the end of the first half, coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team had 77% possession to 23%, with 13 shots (six on target) to zero from the two-island republic.
USA had 293 accurate passes to 68 from the Soca Warriors.
For further context, Pochettino had lost his last four consecutive matches, was without at least eight of his best players and chose to start many of his least experienced players. Eight of the USA’s starting team had fewer than 10 international caps.
Yorke acknowledged that he was “under no illusions” about the gulf between the two teams—although Trinidad and Tobago, under former coach Angus Eve, won their last competitive meeting against USA 2-1 in Concacaf Nations League battle at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 20 November 2023.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“In the first half, we were poor in every department: anticipation, creativity, taking control of the game,” said Yorke. “From there, we were always up against it… Take those two [late first half] goals away [and it would be] 1-0, and we are still in the game.
“At halftime, at 3-0 down, we were just trying to minimise the damage. And, of course, if it wasn’t for our goalkeeper (Marvin Phillip), it could have been worse.”
At the interval, Yorke made three changes to his squad as left back Andre Raymond, right winger Dante Sealy and forward Nathaniel James replaced forward Isaiah Lee, midfielder Noah Powder and Jones, a right-side defender yesterday, respectively.
In the process, Trinidad and Tobago switched from a 3-5-1-1 formation to a 4-3-3, as the Soca Warriors moved to the front foot.
“I felt in the second half we did a little bit better and created one or two chances,” said Yorke, “but by then the game was already over.”
USA’s second-half possession fell to 64% with eight shots to three from Trinidad and Tobago and 244 accurate passes to 128.
It was an obvious improvement. But it was still not nearly enough to get something out of the game.
And, in fact, the USA scored two more times.
“I praise my players as much as I can and I always support them,” said Yorke, “but today we were not at the races. It gives you an indication of the gap at international level and where some of my players are playing at the moment.
“[…] We will continue to work and close that gap as much as possible. But it is a clear indication that there is a lot of work ahead of us to do.”
Thanks to the Unity Cup, Yorke has now been with the core of his squad since 24 May, for a period of 23 days and well over a dozen training sessions. It is the longest period that he will ever have—during his current contract—to share his tactical ideas and philosophy with the senior footballers.
He hinted last night that there was a downside to that time together, as well.
“We’ve been on the road for the past couple of games from the Unity Cup,” he said. “Maybe this was one too many games, but this is a learning experience for my team. They are relatively young.
Photo: TTFA Media.
“[…] This was an eye opener for us and we realise we’ve got some work to get done.”
Trinidad and Tobago face Haiti next on Thursday 19 June. The Haitians lost 1-0 to Saudi Arabia yesterday, and both teams will be desperate for a win to keep fading dreams of a knockout berth alive.
For Yorke, with his team grouped with three Caribbean teams for the final Concacaf World Cup qualifying round, Thursday’s affair also offers the chance to test his troops against the more athletic approach of regional teams.
(via TTFA Media.)
And, of course, he is anxious to move on from their embarrassing opening defeat against the USA.
“It was just a bad day at the office,” said Yorke. “We need to put this behind us very quickly. [There are] two more games to go and we’ve got to get maximum points against Haiti—and that would be the intention going forward.”
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Another baptism of fire for the team. And with the kind of preparation we had, I can’t say that I am surprised.