Trinidad and Tobago’s senior women football team opened it's 2015 Pan American Games with an impressive 2-2 draw with Argentina at the new CIBC Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium in Canada.
Both teams played to a goalless first half with Argentina looking more threatening of the two. In the second half however, T&T came out a different team but it would be the South Americans who drew first blood. Mariana Larroquette gave the South Americans the lead in the 52nd minute. The lead lasted only 7 minute though as Mariah Shade got the equalising goal for T&T in minute 59.
T&T dominated large portions of the second half and wasted a few great chances to pull away for the win, chances upon chances went a-begging and they almost paid the price after Fabiana Vallejos slip in a weak side-foot cross from the left that Forbes failed to hold on too leaving Belen Potassa with a simple tap-in to make it 2-1 in favor of Argentina.
T&T didn't drop their shoulders and responded almost immediately, when former captain Maylee Atti-Johnson tapped in a loose ball after a scramble in the box from a Ahkeela Mollon right-side free-kick that rescued a point for the Soca Princesses.
T&T will face group leaders Colombia next on July 14. The Colombians are fresh from the 2015 Women's World Cup finals (also held in Canada) in which they created history after securing a Round of 16 place only to be knocked out by eventual World Cup winners; USA.
Results
Argentina 2 v T&T 2
Larroquette 52 Shade 59
Potassa 88 Atti-Johnson 90
Teams
T&T: - Kimika Forbes; Ayana Russell (capt), Brianna Ryce, Rhea Belgrave, Arin King, Patrice Superville, Janine Francois (Tasha St Louis 63rd - Yellow 82), Karyn Forbes (Maylee Atti-Johnson 72nd), Ahkeela Mollon, Mariah Shade, Kennya Cordner.
Coach: - Ross Russell.
Argentina: - Elisabeth Minnig; Agustina Barroso (capt), Nerina Garcia, Noelia Espindola (Yellow 46), Florencia Quinones (Belen Potassa 83rd), Cecilia Ghigo, Yael Oviedo, Vanesa Santana, Florencia Bonsegundo, Maria Jaimes (Yellow 28) (Fabiana Vallejos 66th), Mariana Larroquette.
Coach: - Julio Olarticoechea.
Referee: - Mirian Leon (SLV).
Standings
P W D L F A Pts
Colombia 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
T&T 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Argentina 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Mexico 1 0 0 1 0 1 0