PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Trinidad & Tobago assistant coach Anton Corneal and Jamaica head coach René Simoes have emphasised the competitiveness of the friendly international between their two sides on Saturday at the Marvin Lee Stadium.

T&T drew 1-1 with visiting Jamaica as the two Caribbean rivals were playing the return leg of a set of two friendlies in preparation for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The equaliser

Jamaica equalised in the final minute of the match with a penalty from Luton Shelton, after Khaleem Hyland, who turned 19 the day before the game, put the Soca Warriors ahead on the half-hour mark.

Corneal highlighted the intensity of his side. He noted they were faster to the ball and the hosts were more confident than against England in the previous game.

"England were a much better team in every position on the field," he said. "It was much more difficult against them."

"Playing against Jamaica is always like a local derby. It is always physical, whether we play for a trophy, or for marbles. It's always going to be a difficult game."

Better second half

Simoes was also impressed with T&T, and felt their performance in the second half was much closer to what he wanted.

"I can guarantee you if that isn't the spirit, there is no World Cup for us," he said.

"We worked very hard. We had one chance and we capitalised on it. It was a World Cup spirit. If you don't have the spirit the two teams showed, fighting, you can't make it to the World Cup."

In the next round of the World Cup qualifiers, T&T open their campaign at home against Bermuda and Jamaica tackle The Bahamas in Kingston.