Trinidad and Tobago failed to advance to the KO stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 out of Group D. Needing a win in their third and final match, Trinidad and Tobago drew 1- 1 with Saudi Arabia and was eliminated from the Gold Cup. Ironically, there were plenty of scoring opportunities on both sides of the ball, with Trinidad having a glorious scoring chance for the win when forward Garcia hit the crossbar in the dying stages of the game.
The Warriors dug themselves into a hole from the jump when they were defeated 5-0 by the USA in their first group match at PayPal Park on June 15, 2025, in San Jose, California, USA. They fell behind at the 16th minute on a Malik Tilman item and were outclassed from that point on. In anticipation of the halftime, they gave up goals in the 41st and 44th minutes and entered halftime with coach Dwight Yorke contemplating a change of strategy, trailing 3-0.
The only real option for Coach Yorke and his staff must have been to stop the bleeding rather than looking for a win, and in part, his team did exactly that until the floodgates reopened in the 81st and 84th minutes for the 5-0 USA victory.
The loss was not a shock, but the lopsided nature of the defeat was a surprise to T&T supporters and a wake-up call for Coach Dwight Yorke and his coaching staff. They had to rethink their strategy for wins in the remaining games against Haiti and Saudi Arabia, respectively, in order to advance to the quarter finals.
Trinidad and Tobago’s second game against Haiti on Thursday, June 19th, at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas saw Haiti on the front foot and asking many questions of the T&T defense for sustain periods, when against the run of play, forward Levi Garcia was tackled by Kean Kevin Duverne in the 39th minute on what was determined as a clear path (breakaway) foul and Duverne received a red card. However, even while down a man, Haiti continued to control the run of play into and after the halftime break.
The surprise came in the 49th minute when Haiti opened the scoring on Frantzdy Pierrot’s right-footed shot that went past goalkeeper Marvin Phillips. Dwight Yorke immediately turned to his bench and brought in Kevin Molino in the 56th minute. It gave the team the much-needed spark, and their impact on the game was almost immediate.
Trinidad and Tobago’s supporters were elated with their team’s up-tempo game under the leadership of the team captain, Kevin Molino, and the attacking prowess of Real Gill.
Sparked by the changes, the Trinidad and Tobago players found their legs and the equalizer in the 68’ on a Justin Garcia header on a cross in the Haiti box from captain Kevin Molino.
Haiti fought back, and as the game became a free-for-all contest, Haiti was awarded a penalty kick in the 86th minute, which Mondy Prunier kicked over the crossbar. The game ended 1-1 with both teams earning their first point. Heading into the third and final game USA had qualified with 6 points with Saudi Arabia in second place and T&T and Haiti on one point bringing up the rear.
The Group D second-place game was decided on Sunday, 22 June, with simultaneous encounters as Trinidad and Tobago faced Saudi Arabia at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada and Haiti in a tough match-up against the United States at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. USA defeated Haiti 2-1, and as mentioned, T&T drew with Saudi Arabia 1-1, which had Saudi Arabia advance in second place in Group D, with first-place USA advancing to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025.