Joevin Jones still confident in TT’s World Cup chances

Jones started both matches including the 1-0 victory over Panama last Friday and now, while his focus returns to Seattle Sounders in American Major League Soccer (MLS), Jones is keeping a keen eye on TT’s two qualifying matches on the road to United States and Costa Rica on June 8 and June 13 respectively.

“I think we just barely missed out on our mission to get six points or at least four from the two games,” Jones said in a story on the TT Football Association website yesterday.

“Going into the games, I think we were under a bit of pressure because we know how badly we needed a result against Panama but the boys came up big and we got the win thanks to a goal by Kevin (Molino). I think the coach (Dennis Lawrence) laid out his plans and the boys delivered. But the game was not easy because Panama were strong and they made us work hard for the win,” Jones said.

“Mexico was always going to be tough because they are a powerhouse but we also knew that once we kept our focus and stuck to a game plan the new could match them,” Jones added.

“Looking back now I think we showed up well and we had them on the backfoot for some time.

Unluckily for us, things didn’t go our way and I am disappointed because I feel we had a very good chance of coming away with points from the second game,” said the former W Connection defender/midfielder.

About the disallowed goal, Jones noted: “What can I say, the referee (Valdin Legister) made the call when the assistant (Richard Washington) raised his flag.

At the time It felt onside but I also thought it was close but then after the match when I saw the video replays, I thought it was an unlucky call against us.

Who knows how the game would have gone.

“But we have six games to go and everything to play for.

Playing on the road in the next two games is going to be a challenge but I believe in the squad and the coaching staff and I think once we can keep our heads together and continue working hard then we can get some points on the road and set things up for our next set of games in Trinidad,” Jones said.