Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 15 girls team suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada in their semi-final clash at the CONCACAF U-15 Championship in the Cayman Islands on Friday night.
The result puts means that T&T will face Honduras in the third place playoff on Sunday as the team, coached by Rajesh Latchoo put up a brave display and matched the highly rated Canadians in a keenly contested affair on Friday. It was the first defeat in five games for T&T. Haiti beat Honduras in their other semi final match to advance to the final.
Anyssa Ibrahim struck for the game’s lone goal in the 15th minute, firing a right-footed shot from 25-yards out into the upper-right corner of the net. Soon after, the 15-year-old midfielder had two additional attempts, but Trinidad goalkeeper Klil Keshwar did well to thwart both.
The Soca Princesses nearly went ahead earlier, when Raenah Campbell outpaced the Canada defense only to see her effort blocked by goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx. In a second-half bid to equalize, a 25-yard volley off the foot of T&T’s Arianna Campbell hit the underside of the crossbar.
Latchoo later credited his team for their strong showing.
“We knew it was going to be difficult and maybe a lot of people expected us to get hammered by Canada which has a far advanced program and they are a giant in women’s football, but we showed a lot of courage and ability to compete at this level. I’m proud of the girls,” he told TTFA Media.
“We tried to give the team best preparation possible within the resources that were available to us and it showed clearly that there was some value coming out of it. We were four games unbeaten and we posed a decent challenge against a team like Canada which augers well for local women’s football. This team will definitely continue to prepare and be kept together for the next Under 17 World Cup campaign,” Latchoo added.
Teams (from - CONCACAF.COM)
Trinidad & Tobago: - 20.Klil KESHWAR, 3.Natisha JOHN, 4.Shenieka PAUL, 6.Amaya ELLIS, 16.Arianna CAMPBELL (2.Shalisha KING 72nd), 10.Adanyo PHILLP (9.Laurelle THEODORE 46th), 8.Nia HONORE, 12.Kaydeen JACK (17.Alizza McCUTCHEON 82nd), 14.Alexis FORTUNE, 13.Tsai-Anne HERNANDEZ, 7.Raenah CAMPBELL.
Unused Subs: - 1.Malaika DEDIER; 5.Raynicia CHARLES, 11.Kedie JOHNSON, 15.Asha JAMES.
COACH: - Rajesh LATCHOO.
Canada: - 1.Lysianne Proulx, 3.Kennedy Faulknor, 4.Nahida Baalbaki, 5.Bryana Buttar (2.Kavina Ganeshan 67th), 6.Samantha Chang, 7.Mya Jones (13.Shana Flynn 53rd), 8.Sarah Stratigakis, 10.Anyssa Ibrahim (16.Danielle Camilleri 78th), 15.Lauren Raimondo (9.Teni Akindoju 46th), 17.Emma Regan, 11.Camila Gomez (14.Julia Grosso 58th).
Unused Subs: - 12.Jordyn Huitema.
COACH: - Beverly Priestman.
2014 CONCACAF U-15 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIS:
Today
6.30 p.m. - 3rd Place: T&T v Honduras, Truman Bodden Sports Complex, Cayman
8.45 p.m. Final: Haiti v Cabada, Truman Bodden Sports Complex, Cayman
VIDEO: - Highlights