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Hat-tricks from striker Jason Scotland and Cornell Glen might have overshadowed everything else on any other day,  but it would be cause for worry if Trinidad and Tobago head coach Francisco Maturana was pleased with yesterday's facile 9-0 victory over the Dominican Republic...except for the goals.

It can, at best, only be a confidence-booster as the visitors fielded almost a youth team at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. And few could bravely shout that the Soca Warriors significantly improved  on what they did against the USA last month.

Maturana now has three days to get a lot of things right before Trinidad and Tobago  travel to Guatemala for a crucial World Cup qualifier on Saturday night.

It took 28 minutes of ragged play before Scotland finally gave the home team the lead, beating keeper Miguel Lloyd with a low shot from inside the penalty area.

Scotland at times looked slow, but the Swansea striker produced a bit of magic when chipping Lloyd from long distance in the 31st minute for his second goal.

Badly out of position, the suspect Dom Rep keeper only managed to help the ball into his net, giving T&T a 2-0 lead.

Scotland's "trick" was completed in the 35th, when he pushed past his marker and beat the  keeper with a low shot. And then defender Federico Peralata managed to turn the ball  into his own net on the stroke of half-time, giving T&T a 4-0 lead.

Glen came on for Scotland and also managed a treble in the second half.

First, breaking past the defence in the 60th, he hit a low shot past substitute keeper Wellington De Los Santos, before completing his hat-trick in the 72nd with two close-up goals.

And with the Dominican Republic citadel under siege, substitute Anthony Wolfe (82nd) and Darryl Roberts (87th) also added late items.

Amidst the constant flow of goals, the Soca Warriors still managed to looked out of shape, though perhaps rising to the occasion in the second half.

Most fans would be hard pressed to see significant improvement over the dismal showing in last month's 3-0 defeat against the Americans.

For long periods, T&T lost shape, no one pressured the ball and, as is normal, the right flank appeared a highway with wide space between  defender Avery John and apparent "striker" Keon Daniel.

Veteran Russell Latapy, making his return to the national line-up, played for 60 minutes and still managed a few moments of magic, like when striking a one-time shot against the crossbar. His nifty back heel also carved out a chance for Daniel up the flank, and "Latas" also freed Carlos Edwards with  a well-weighted chip over the top.

Even so, can Maturana risk playing  both Latapy and captain Dwight Yorke at the same time.

Reluctant runners even in their prime, Trinidad and Tobago's two best footballers of recent times now have 76 years between them.

How will they fare in hostile Guatemala City with a hungry home team running at them?

Yesterday's meaningless victory answered none of those questions.