The young women footballers of T&T went under 1-4 to Costa Rica in their CONCACAF Under-19 Womens World Cup Final Round qualifier, finishing the match with only nine players.
By half-time in yesterdays tournament Group B opener at the Mc Gill Universitys Molson Stadium in Montreal, Costa Rica held a comfortable 2-0 advantage over the T&T girls. By that time also, the T&T team was already depleted to 10 players as experienced play-maker/striker Maylee Attin-Johnson was given marching orders withinin the first 15 minutes, after she retaliated following her being fouled from behind.
On the resumption, a rejuvenated T&T team got a life-line when US-based forward Ahkeela Mollon, who attends Young Harris College, reduced the deficit to 2-1.
But Costa Rica reclaimed a two-goal cushion mid-way in the second-half. After making three substitutions, stand-in T&T head coach Marlon Charles and his technical staff received another blow when Mollon had to be taken to hospital following a collision with a Canada goalkeeper which left her unconscious. The speedy Mollon was sent through on a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who was the better off after the collision, but Mollon was shown the red card for her tackle, further reducing her team. Costa Rica added another goal to complete the 4-1 win.
Several of Trinidad and Tobago's "Soca Princesses" have opted to travel to Canada with the national under-19 women's football team rather than take their Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations. Among those putting their future on hold in favour of representing Trinidad and Tobago are Aveann Douglas (St George's College), Nadia James (Malick Senior Comprehensive), Afiya Castle (Malick), Jemilia Mathlin and Niasha Reyes.
In the second match scheduled yesterday in Montreal, host team Canada was to oppose Jamaica in Group A.
Over at the Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa, Mexico handed Central American rivals Panama a 5-1 thrashing after leading 2-1 at the interval in Group A while USA was scheduled to meet the Dominican Republic in the nights final match in Group B.
T&Ts next match will be against defending FIFA U-19 World champion team USA tomorrow while Costa Rica will face the Dominican Republic. In Group A Jamaica will tackle Mexico and Canada will clash with Panama.
The eight-team tournament will conclude on next week Sunday (June 6) with the top two nations qualifying for the FIFA Under-19 World Championships in Thailand from November 10 to 27.
SQUAD: 1-Ann Thomas 2-Ayana Russell (13-Afiya Castle 71st) 3-Kia Rigsby, 5-Katrina Meyer, 6-Jemilia Mathlin, 8-Nadia James, 9-Maylee Attin-Johnson, 10-Dernelle Mascall (7-Niasha Rayes 56th), 11-Aveann Douglas, 12-Ahkeela Mollon, 16-Shurell Burton (15-Kennya Cordner 82nd).
Booked: N. James 41th, Sent off: Attin-Johnson 22th, A. Thomas 86th.