Carlos: We need to make this one count
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF)Trinidad and Tobago’s quota of overseas-based players are expected to arrive in Port of Spain today (Sunday) to join with the rest of the national team ahead of Wednesday’s crucial 2010 World Cup qualifier against El Salvador at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Head Coach Russell Latapy will welcome into his side Sunderland duo Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne Jones as well as San Jose Earthquakes forward Cornell Glen among others. Latapy, who will make the announcement on his final list of invited players, is anticipating the next couple days as he steps up the preparations for the encounter.
The team is carded to train at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Sunday and head coach Russell Latapy will address the local media at a press conference at the Crowne Plaza on Monday afternoon at 2pm.
With Wednesday’s encounter being such a vital one for the “Soca Warriors” midfielder Edwards is emphasizing the need for continued support from the public.
“It’s an absolutely critical game for us and we need everyone on board. I don’t see any reason why people should not want to continue their support. It’s far from over but we need to make things better for ourselves by getting a victory on Wednesday,” Edwards told TTFF Media.
“I know for sure the players will give their all because we know how important three points will be on the day. The gaffer has been getting the rest of the squad ready and the players arriving to join the final team know for sure that they have to pick their game up and try to push on. The last two games were not bad in terms of performance but we didn’t get the results we wanted. This time we have to make it all count on Wednesday,” Edwards said.
El Salvador meantime lost a friendly to Colombia 2-1 on Friday night in Houston. El Salvador was on the defensive from the outset, and Colombia quickly took advantage.
Forward Teofilo Gutierrez took a pass from Jhon Viafara on a controlled attack inside the box in the 13th minute and deposited it in the left side of the net, giving Colombia a 1-0 lead.
Colombia coach Eduardo Lara fielded an alternate side, but El Salvador failed to take advantage in the first half.
A pair of yellow cards against Colombia midway through the half temporarily energized the El Salvador offense, but they never could break through the Colombian back row.
El Salvador goalkeeper Miguel Montes kept his country in the match, coming up with several saves, including a leaping, one-handed deflection of a Jairo Palomino shot in the 36th minute.
El Salvador finally got the temporary equalizer in the 69th minute.
Osael Romero sent a corner from the right side to Juan Carlos Moscoso, who came off the bench to score the ball on the left side of the net.
El Salvador sent several of its top players to Friday's soccer friendly with Colombia, and the team's faithful fans turned out in droves, filling Robertson Stadium with a sea of blue.
But it was the Colombians who brought the urgency.
Despite not facing a World Cup qualifier until September, they dominated the first half – and most of the match – before using a goal in the 88th minute to seal a 2-1 victory before 20,418.
New York Redbull defender Alfredo Pacheco will join the El Salvador team along leading goal scorer Eliseo Quintanilla who plays for Cyprus Club Ermis Aradippou, Rodolfo Zelaya and Cristian Castillo, both players for Club Leon in Mexico, as well as central midfielder from the San Jose Earthquakes, Ramon Sanchez, will join the team when they travel to Port of Spain on Monday.
View Warriors Friday training session
