MEXICO Women were never likely to concede the handful of goals which Trinidad and Tobago’s senior Women footballers needed to advance to the playoff round of the 2024 W Gold Cup.
And last night, Mexico completed their CONCACAF Nations League A series with a 1-0 win over a defensively solid T&T, breaking the stalemate courtesy on a superb Cristina Ferral goal at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The Women Warriors only threatened the Mexican’s goal twice, striker Maria Serrant shooting powerfully, but wide in the 71st minute after using her speed to outpace her marker. And in stoppage time Serrant also made a decent effort at goal, only to see her shot drop on top of the net.
Mexico completed the four-match series as group winners and with a maximum 12 points from a pair of wins over T&T (6-1 & 1-0) and Puerto Rico (2-1 & 3-0). Puerto Rico finished second on four points, their 2-1 win over T&T in Port of Spain providing decisive, with T&T third with a single point, earned last month in a draw away to Puerto Rico.
Earlier last night, St Vincent and the Grenadine defeated Barbados 4-2 in a League B qualifier at the HCS. Meanwhile, T&T did relatively well keeping the Mexicans quiet in the first half, until Ferral smashed the eventual match winner.
With defensive leader Victoria Swift on the sidelines injured, after putting in an earlier desperate tackle, Mexico capitalised, when a corner kick was played to the end of the penalty area, Ferral was there to fire home at the far post, giving Simone Eligon, the England-born T&T goalkeeper no chance to stop the ball.
Eligon had to be at her best at least twice, denying Kiana Palacios from extending the visitors’ lead in the second half. And when Jacqueline Ovalle chested down a corner kick at the edge of the penalty and shot to the far post, Eligon got an important hand to parry and turn it wide.
Mexico head coach Pedro Lopez took the opportunity to bench a few of his starters, but was not reckless enough to leave out his star player Stephanie Mayor, who was largely kept quiet and looked frustrated when turning a shot off in the 75th minute.