TT coach Lawrence slams match officials

Lawrence, the former TT defender, made his feelings clear about the failure of Cuban referee Yadel Martinez to award a penalty when striker Jamille Boatswain was pulled down by Costa Rican defender Michael Umana in the 51st minute.

“First and foremost I’m going to be careful with how I deal with the situation because I am not really happy,” said Lawrence. “Congratulations to Costa Rica.

“In terms of our boys, I think we gave a tremendous effort and I don’t think the result reflected the actual result. I’ve got to question the penalty because I think the only people on the football pitch that did not believe it was a penalty were the officials (Martinez and assistant referees Leonardo Sanchez of Cuba and Hermenerito Leal of Guatemala).

“From that point of view, I thought we should have come out with something from the game and I really feel sorry for the boys,” Lawrence added.

“We know points were important (on Tuesday). We are going to fight until the end, until it becomes mathematically impossible for us to qualify,” he pointed out.

The national coach went on to state, “I thought we had more of the game in the second half than Costa Rica. I think the entire stadium knew it was a penalty.

The only people who did not recognise it was the people who were most important – the officials.” TT midfielder Kevin Molino, who scored the visitors’ lone goal in the 35th minute, was notably upset with the result but managed to keep a positive spirit ahead of the remaining set of matches.

“I am disappointed. There is no way to hide this because I felt we did well enough to get a result (on Tuesday), at least a point. I feel pleased to have scored here in Costa Rica but I am hurting with the result.

I would have much preferred to leave here with something. We put out a strong effort but unfortunately we didn’t get the result,” Molino said.

The Minnesota United player reflected, “First half we were in it even after the early goal and when I banged it in, I felt we had them on the blackfoot and the game was there for the taking.

But we had a couple close misses and very close penalty call but we know in these countries, we are not going to get those calls. It is unfortunate for us at this time.

“But I feel very strongly about how we are coming along as a team.

We fought really well and matched this Costa Rican team and hopefully we can pull it even close together for the next set of games in September and get the results we need,” Molino ended.