Kennya Cordner put Trinidad ahead less than 11 minutes after the opening kickoff and the Soca Princesses went on to beat Caribbean rival Guyana 4-1 Tuesday night to finish both teams' campaigns in the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying.
Cordner used her speed to stretch Guyana's defense and tested keeper Catherine Kobelka early and often, but was thwarted on a penalty by the Lady Jags' netminder in the 40th minute.
Trinidad, which was largely on the defensive throughout in its losses to Mexico (1-0) and Canada (2-0), dominated from the outset and never was seriously threatened by Guyana. It finished in third place in Group A with three points.
It was a second loss for Guyana this year to Trinidad, which beat the Lady Jags 3-0 in Caribbean qualifying on May 14. After winning five of seven games in qualifying by a combined 17-5, Guyana was eliminated in the CONCACAF finals with three straight losses by an aggregate 19-3.
Cordner put a header wide 43 seconds in, and sprinted on goal only to have her shot intercepted by defender Justine Rodrigues in the ninth minute before she put Trinidad ahead.
She ran onto a headed pass from Janine Francois at the perimeter of the penalty area and streaked by Rodrigues before shooting at the edge of the six-yard box. Kobelka was able to partially block the shot, but not stop it from getting underneath and past her into the goal.
Kobelka was able to block another of Cordner's shots in the 25th but the resulting corner enabled Trinidad to double its lead. Rhea Belgrave ran on to Karyn Forbes' corner about eight yards from goal, heading it off the underside of the bar. The ball crashed down over the line before Kobelka could grab it.
The 37-year-old Guyana keeper had her moment in the 40th. She raced off her line to the top of the area to get to a loose ball, only to upend Cordner, who had tipped the ball past Kobelka.
But she went low to her left to block Cordner's ensuing penalty, and the Trinidad winger - with an open goal to shoot at - sent the rebound well over the bar from seven meters.
Trinidad increased its lead to 3-0 3½ minutes into the second half when Akeela Mollon sprinted free down the right side and crossed it to the back post where Candace Edwards converted with an easy volley.
Guyana finally replied in the 60th with a second goal in the tournament by Mariam El-Masri, one of nine teen-agers on the Lady Jags' roster. Ashely Rodrigues worked her way down the left side of the area before sending a ball into the goal box, where El-Masri volleyed at the near post.
Dernell Mascall restored the three-goal advantage five minutes later. Another Forbes corner was first headed by Cordner to the middle of the area just outside the goal box. Edwards was just able to get a touch that deflected it to Mascall, who toed the ball in from inside the six.
Teams
T&T: - Kimika Forbes, Rhea Belgrave, Arin King, Danielle Blair, Karyn Forbes (Yellow 75), Anyana Russell, Janine Francois (Afiyah Matthias 72nd), Ahkeela Mollon, Dernelle Mascal (Jemila Mathlin 67th), Kennya Cordner, Candance Edwards (Natasha Louis 81st).
Guyana: - Catherine Kobelka, Justine Rodrigues, Collette Hope (Yellow 32), Briana Desouza, Karina Moore (Donna Carvalhal 74th), Mariam El-Masri (Tessa Edwards 80th), Ashlee Savona, Kayla Desouza (Olivia Gonsalves 46th), Alison Heydorn, Ashley Rodrigues, Melissia Elia.
Referee: - Gillian Martindale (Barbados).
Video: - Highlight.
Standings
GP W D L F A D PTS
Canada 3 3 0 0 12 0 +12 9
Mexico 3 2 0 1 9 5 +4 6
Trinidad & Tobago 3 1 0 2 4 4 +0 3
Guyana 3 0 0 3 3 19 -16 0
‘Lady Jags’ lose to ‘Soca Princesses’ 4-1 as World Cup journey ends.
By Franklin Wilson (kaieteurnewsonline) in Cancun, Mexico.
Guyana’s ‘Lady Jags’ ended their CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying campaign with a spirited performance against Trinidad and Tobago’s ‘Soca Princess’ whom they lost to 4-1 when Group action ended last evening at the Estadio Beta Avila in Cancun, Mexico.
The young Guyana team, battled well despite the loss and were all over the Twin Island Republic team in the last 15 minutes of the match.
The quick and more experienced Trinidad side got their goals, two either side of play from Kenya Cordner in the 10th minute, Rhea Belgrave in the 25th minute, Candance Edwards three minutes after the break and Dernell Mascall in the 64th minute.
Guyana responded through their most energetic and robust player of this tournament, Mariam El-Masri in the 59th minute.
Their was never no doubt for most of the match as to which of the teams was better but the ‘Lady Jags’ stood up and battled to the best of their ability and proved that with more time they can be triumphant against the very teams they faced in this historic sojourn of theirs.
Coming into this match, having lost heavily to host team Mexico (7-2) and Canada (8-0), Trinidad felt that the ‘Lady Jags’ would have been a walk over but that was not to be as they had to work hard for their goals.
The Trinis as well had two tough games against the same opposition as Guyana losing 1-0 and 2-0 respectively.
In the final 20 minutes of the match the Soca Princesses faded and the Jags were all over them but could not find the back of the nets. Guyana made one change coming into this game, bringing in Melissa Elie for Olivia Gonsalves.
The Jags, well loved and supported by the Mexican crowd lacked punch up front which the Trinis had lots of, their main threats to the Guyanese were Vice Captain Akeela Mollon and Kennya Cordner, the speed and smartness of these two caused all sorts of problems for Guyana.
From the first run down, T&T showed that they were going to be very aggressive, their first shot on goal just going wide of the left side upright.
Guyana too, showed aggressive intent from the start and while they were able to get deep into the T&T half in the first 10 minutes that situation charged as the game progressed. The Guyanese also forced the first corner.
Kennya Cordner penetrated down the right side to slip the ball under custodian Catherine Kobelka for goal number one in the 10th minute; the Guyanese defence was caught too flat and the very nippy Cordner put the ball away.
Guyana were guilty of giving up possession too easy. The Soca Princesses were able to penetrate the opposition’s defensive third all too easy. Karyn Forbes scored in the 25th minute.
T&T’s Vice Captain Mollon and Kennya Cordner continued their constant raids on Guyana’s defence. Trinidad were on course for their 3rd goal which was eventually denied due to a brilliant save by Kibelka.
Cordner was brought down in box by Kobelka in the 40th minute but the ensuing penalty which was also taken by Cordner was blocked by Kobelka – the kick on the rebound was way too aggressive by the kicker and her shot was spewed wide of the left upright.
The first half ended with the score unchanged and Guyana growing in confidence. Trinidad increased their lead 3 minutes into the second half, Candance Edwrads on an assist from (squared ball) deep in the attacking third which spilled past the entire defence and keeper for Edwards to calmly pat home.
The Soca Princesses became a bit too complacent and over confident and missed several chances. Guyana from an excellent build up in midfield pulled one back with Mariam El-Masri finishing in fine style in the 59th minute.
A goal mouth scramble developed 5 minutes later which resulted in the fourth goal for Trinidad scored by Dernell Mascall.
Both sides made substitutions and Guyana really turned the tables on the tiring Soca Princesses but were unable to further reduce the score line.
A better show by the ‘Lady Jags’ but their second loss to Trinidad in as many matches having lost 3-0 in the final round of CFU Qualifying.
The semifinals of the tournament is set for Friday, with host team Mexico, Canada, USA and Costa Rica battling for the championship. The two finalists will qualify for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany with the third placed team going into a playoff.