The Trinidad and Tobago women's Under-20 team stumbled in their quest to qualify for the CONCACAF round of qualifying for the World Youth Championships when they were beaten 1-0 by Jamaica in Caribbean Football Union qualifying on Sunday night.
A lone item provided by Shanique Mitchell after a goalkeeping blunder by T&T's Trisha Lawrence, left the young female "Warriors" without a point in their first match of the series, at the Larry Gomes Stadium, in Arima. Haiti and Suriname are also involved.
In the first half, T&T could have gone ahead on several occasions, but the finishing lacked the aggression necessary to counteract the physical play of the Jamaicans.
The hosts kept the pressure up, backed by a vocal crowd at the Malabar Stadium, and had several near misses in the first half, the best of which came from T&T's US-based striker Maylee Attin-Johnson.
She was sent through by Anastasia Prescott on the left flank, but lost out on approaching goal in a one-on-one with Jamaican defender Yolanda Hamilton.
Attin-Johnson's striking partner, the diminutive, tricky Kennya Cordner also missed out on a great ball a few minutes later, as she was slow to react, allowing the Jamaican defence to clear.
The Jamaicans were consigned to shooting from outside the box for most of the half, as the back four of Prescott, Kia Rigsby, Ayana Russell and Katrina Meyer held the backline well on a wet and slippery surface.
Just before the interval, T&T skipper Aveann Douglas had a crack at goal, but her chip went awry.
The two teams started slow for after the break, with T&T settling first. But although they exhibited better passing skill than their counterparts, the Jamaicans made good use of their physical power and superior speed in defence.
They were given an opening in the 62nd, but Venicia Reid missed the far post with Lawrence committed to a dive.
In the 66th, Douglas headed a Dernell Mascall left-side corner into the side netting. From the ensuing Jamaican attack, the ball was played into space beyond the 18-metre area. Russell and Lawrence ran to intercept, but the latter's weak clearance dropped at the feet of Mitchell, who raced into the box and deposited in the far corner.
The goal gave the Jamaicans impetus to press forward, but they made little use of their speed. At the other end, T&T were desperate for the equaliser, but
Attin-Johnson and company could not find the net when it counted.
In the earlier match of the double-header, Suriname also had a win over Haiti, Aisha Smit finding the net in the 48th and 68th minutes to seal a 2-1 victory over Haiti.
T&T next face the Haitians today in a double-header at the same venue from 7 p.m. Before that, the Jamaicans tackle Suriname in the first match, at 5 p.m.