BACOLET, Tobago (CMC) – New Trinidad and Tobago coach Russell Latapy has not given up hope on the Soca Warriors qualifying for the 2010 World Cup Finals although their loss to Costa Rica Saturday night has further damaged their already slender hopes.

The defeat – their second in four games – left winless T&T firmly at the bottom of the six-team CONCACAF play-off series but Latapy is hoping that a reversal form in the remaining games could lift them back into contention.

“Mathematically we still have a chance of qualifying and it’s important that all of us keep that in mind because only with that belief and that spirit will it be possible to make it happen,” Latapy said after the game.

Some of Saturday’s other results also appeared to compound T&T’s woes as El Salvador, who had shared the bottom of the points table with them, upset Mexico 2-1 to climb into third place on five points.

The Costa Ricans lead the table with 12 points, two ahead of the USA, who defeated Honduras 2-1.

Honduras are lying fourth on four points and Mexico (3) are fifth, just ahead of T&T.

T&T’s Soca Warriors got the start they wanted Saturday evening at Dwight Yorke Stadium when Carlos Edwards gave them a 29th minute lead, smashing in a low right-footer from outside the box.

But Alvaro Saborio drew Costa Rica level in the 40th minute and Celso Borges hit second-half goals in the 52nd and 68th minutes to secure Costa Rica’s win after Collin Samuel had locked the game at 2-2 with a goal in the 63rd minute.

Latapy felt aggrieved that his side did not drive home the advantage they got but praised the side for displaying fight throughout the game.

“To lose a game after going ahead at home is always hard to take but I was delighted with the effort from the boys and it’s a good promising indication of what we are capable of producing,” Latapy said.

“Costa Rica are the table toppers and they showed why today because they punished us and they were clinical with their chances,” Latapy added.

Latapy had scheduled training sessions for last evening and this morning before departing to face struggling Mexico on Wednesday.