Jones, Singh suffered defeats in MLS openers

Trinidad & Tobago’s utility player Joevin Jones and former youth player Luke Singh both suffered losses in the opening round of the Major League Soccer over the weekend.

Jones debuted for his new MLS club Inter Miami FC but it didn’t go as he wanted with his team falling 3-2 to LA Galaxy in their opening fixture of the MLS on Sunday. Jones started the game at left back and was substituted in the 93rd minute playing in a 4-2-3-1 system under head coach Phil Neville.

Inter Miami got their goals from Robbie Robinson (45+mins) and Argentine Gonzalo Higuain (68th) from the penalty spot. Whereas, for the Galaxy, Chicarito registered a second-half brace (62nd,73rd) and Sacha Kljestan with the eventual winner in the 81st minute.

Sporting the number 33 jersey, Jones moved from Seattle Sounders in the off season after his contract was ended to join the David Beckham-owned team. The MLS title winner in 2016 and 2019 will be hoping for a better performance by his team in their upcoming match against Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

Former T&T U-20 defender, Luke Singh also debuted for Toronto FC and it ended unfavourably in a 4-2 loss to fellow Canadian team Montreal on Saturday at the DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Singh who was born in Canada to Trinidadian parents standing at 6ft 2 inches played the entire match at center back.

Montreal opened the scoring through Mason Toye in the third minute and doubled their lead via Romell Quioto the 24th minute. Toronto’s Mark Delgado’s pulled a goal back from the penalty spot before half-time but Victor Wanyama’s header reassured two-goal cushion in the 54th minute. Djordje Mihailovic secured the three points for Montreal with his goal in the 71st minute. Toronto added one more goal through Richie Laryea in the 88th minute to end the match 4-2 in favour of Montreal. Singh and his teammates will now be facing Vancouver on Saturday.

Prior to the kickoff, Toronto FC announced that the club signed Singh as a Homegrown Player through 2025. Singh became the 26th player in club history to sign for the first team from the Toronto FC Academy.

Singh represented Trinidad & Tobago at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship held in Florida in 2018. The 20-year-old Singh, recently signed two short-term deals with Toronto FC to play the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) Round of 16 matches against Club Leon. He made his professional debut with Toronto FC when he came on in the 87th minute on April 7, 2021. The defender earned his first start for Toronto FC in the 2-1 victory over Leon on April 14.