Despite not securing the desired result against Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dwight Yorke remains optimistic that his team can still book a place in the knockout round of the Concacaf Gold Cup, provided they deliver an improved performance in their final group fixture against Saudi Arabia.

The Soca Warriors earned their first point of the campaign following a 1-1 draw with Haiti at Shell Energy Stadium on Thursday night. It was a match filled with frustration and missed chances, but one that keeps their tournament dreams flickering. To progress from Group D, Yorke’s side must now beat Saudi Arabia—a team that already defeated Haiti and sits second on three points—when they meet at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday.

“It was far from ideal, but we are still in the competition. We’ve got a big game against Saudi Arabia next. If things go in our favour, we still have an outside chance of advancing to the next round,” Yorke said.

As it turned out, the United States edged Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Thursday’s late kickoff to claim top spot in the group and secure a quarterfinal berth with six points. The result ensures that the Soca Warriors, currently fourth, still have a mathematical chance of progressing, but only if they beat the Saudis convincingly and hope for a favourable outcome in the Haiti versus USA encounter.

Yorke, who took over the reins late last year, acknowledged the steep learning curve facing his squad, especially with many players still adapting to the physical and mental demands of elite international football.

"These players are not used to the demands at this level—playing back-to-back-to-back games. We’re still in a learning process, but this competition gives us a chance to learn and adapt. We want to advance, but regardless of what happens, every minute on this stage will serve us well in the World Cup Qualifying campaign," Yorke noted.

While pleased with the team's resilience to claw back from a goal down, courtesy of Justin Garcia’s 68th-minute equalizer, Yorke was candid in assessing areas that still need sharpening. The lack of attacking spark in the first half and general tentativeness in possession were particularly concerning.

"We weren’t creative enough. Some players were afraid to make mistakes. I try to encourage them to play on the front foot, take risks, and push the opposition back towards the goal,” he explained.

Still, Yorke emphasized that tactics alone won't be enough, as physical grit must match technical finesse.

“At this level, you need a lot of physicality and energy. Right now, we’re too easy to play against because we are seen as sort of a footballing team, but there is a physicality side to it, so we need to be a little bit aggressive. We must grow up quickly and become more demanding of each other," Yorke declared.

In a twist of fate, Yorke’s first game in charge of the Soca Warriors was a friendly against Saudi Arabia, which ended in a 3-1 loss. That experience may serve as a reference point heading into this high-stakes rematch.

"That is where our concentration is. We know what lies ahead in September with the World Cup qualifiers, and there is plenty of work to be done between now and then. But first we must try to get out of this group," the former Manchester United striker said.