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Fri, Mar

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TRINIDAD AND Tobago football team coach Stephen Hart is pleased with the improvement shown by the squad in their 4-0 victory over Dominican Republic in their Caribbean Cup Third Round Qualifiers Group Four game at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Wednesday evening.

But the TT coach says there is still a lot of work still to be done on the defensive side of things.

Midfielder Kevin Molino, who plays for Orlando City, scored a hat-trick while Cordell Cato, who also plays in the American MLS (Major League Soccer), for San Jose Earthquakes, got the other goal for the hosts. During the post-game media conference, Hart remarked, “we always want to win the game.

“There were specific things that I asked the guys to focus on,” he commented. “At times they did it very well but, to be honest, it could be much better because they lost concentration in some crucial parts of the game.

Asked specifically what he wanted the TT team to focus on, Hart replied, “for one, in the defensive transition, can we stop the ball from being played forward quickly and can we recover into our defensive shape as quickly as possible. At times I thought we did that.” He continued, “the other thing I wanted was the ball speed, the speed at which we move the ball.

It was difficult on that surface, the grass was quite high. It was a slow-passing field.” Concerning the performance of Molino, the TT coach stated, “if you look at the goals he scored, with the exception of his first goal, it was just being active in the box - he used to be that way before. The goals were just from a matter of being active and getting on to loose balls in the box, which is fantastic. I’m really happy for him. It will give him a lot of confidence.” Trinidad and Tobago will now turn their attention towards a Group Four contest away to Martinique on Tuesday. The Group winners will progress to both the 2017 Caribbean Cup and the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

“We will start (preparing today),” said Hart. “We are supposed to leave on Sunday on an island-hopping event to get there.

It’s difficult to get to, very difficult.” About the Martinique team, Hart pointed out, “I watched them. They are littered with players from the French Leagues, very technical. They can be a very difficult side especially in their comfort zone, which will be at home.” Kenwyne Jones, the TT captain, also spoke on his display on Tuesday as well as the forthcoming Martinique contest.

“My performance, I’m happy with it. Maybe disappointed that I couldn’t get one (goal) myself on such a special day for me (his 32nd birthday) but, at the same time, I’m happy that I am able to contribute and to be able to lift the people around me because it’s important that we all chip in, coming into the next game and the next stages of the hex. It’s going to take a total team effort to qualify for the World Cup.”