Riding the rhythm Soca Warriors want to go all the way to final

Riding the rhythm Soca Warriors want to go all the way to final
Published on Jul 18, 2015, 11:41 pm AST


Trinis love to get in good rhythm.

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart wants his players to keep theirs today. He has spoken of riding the wave of their 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup success, as far as it can carry them.

The Soca Warriors face Panama from 4.30p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, a game which will be carried live on local television on the Government-controlled channel, CNMG.

Tonight's second semi-final will see Mexico facing Costa Rica.

The two winners tonight will earn tickets to a semi-final doubleheader at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday.

T&T are through to a second successive CONCACAF Gold Cup since Hart took the helm two years ago, and are hoping to make their first semi-final in 15 years, since Bertille St Clair's team lost 1-0 to champions Canada. It is the first time in three progressions to the quarter-final stage that T&T have topped a group at the Gold Cup. It is also the first time they have played unbeaten.

“Now it's a knock-out. It's a new tournament and I think we need to ride this momentum,” Hart said. “The fear of playing Mexico and playing in the tournament is gone now. They (Soca Warriors) know they can play and get a result.”

Cardiff City striker Kenwyne Jones was an inspiration when scoring one goal and setting up two for Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings in a thrilling 4-4 Group C draw with the Mexicans. He too spoke of carrying forward the momentum.

“Hopefully we could ride on that cloud going into the quarter-finals,” the T&T captain said.

Trinidad and Tobago and Panama are familiar rivals and played in a March friendly at the Ato Boldon Stadium with the Canaleros coming up with a 1-0 win on Roman Torres' first-half goal.

However, KV Mechelen defender Sheldon Bateau, believes a different T&T team will step on the field this afternoon at MetLife Stadium.

“We have more senior players,” he noted.

“Back then we had a young team, a new team. We weren't as confident and as ready as we are now. We're ready to give a good show.”