Maylee Attin-Johnson scored three goals to lead the Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 women footballers to a convincing 5-0 away first-leg win over Anguilla as they kicked off their Caribbean Football Union CONCACAF Under-19 World Cup qualifying series.
Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive School teams defender Jemilia Mathlin opened the scoring for T&T in the 18th minute to silence the Webster Park crowd before Diego Martin Government Secondary schoolgirl and Stingrays club striker Attin-Johnson took over the starring role. Attin-Johnson gave the locals a 2-0 advantage at half-time with her first goal in the 32nd minute. Two minutes into the second-half, all chances Anguilla (6-0 and 4-0 winners over St Lucia in the previous round) had of clawing back into the match were dashed by Attin-Johnsons second goal for a 3-0 lead.
St Georges College forward Kermica Alexander made it 4-0 for T&T in the 60th minute with her first goal in national colours, before Attin-Johnson completed the scoring in the 68th minute.
The T&T girls, captained by Nadia James, the Secondary Schools Football Leagues Female Player of the Year and captain of Malick girls team who won the SSFL championship and inter-col knockout series, were due to return home last night.
The return leg match will take place at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Tunapuna, on Sunday from 3 pm and striker Ahkeela Mollon, who is studying at Young Harris College in the United States is expected to join the team. Mollon missed Sundays match because of school commitments.
The team winning the T&T/Anguilla tie will meet the surviving side from the Suriname/Dominica play-off , with the winner advancing to the CONCACAF finals in Canada.