Trinidad and Tobago’s National Women’s Under 17 team pulled off their second victory in Caribbean Football Union World Cup qualifying when they held off Antigua/Barbuda 4-1 at the Paul E Joseph Stadium in St Croix on Friday afternoon.
Fresh off their win over St Kitts/Nevis a couple days earlier, T&T had to come from a goal down after Antigua grabbed an 18th minute lead through Sonja Henry.
The early setback did not deter the T&T girls and they deservedly found the equalizer in the 38th minute when Chevonne John collected a through ball from Dennecia Prince and beat her defender before slotting home. John wasted no time in putting T&T ahead, finding the target two minutes later.
T&T eased to a 3-1 lead before half time when Chelcy Ralph, one of the late arriving players a day earlier, when she was on stop to nail a rebound after the Antiguan goalkeeper failed to hold onto a cross ball.
Ralph put T&T 4-1 ahead with a clinical finish from close range in the 75th minute.
T&T now faces hosts US Virgin Islands from 6pm on Sunday and need to win in order to finish as a top seed for the Final round in September. USVI defeated St Kitts 5-0 in the earlier game on Friday.
“It was another good display by the girls but I was particularly pleased with the way they were able to regroup and take charge of the game after conceding early,” said head coach Marlon Charles. “We showed good composure and the team continues to grow in confidence and get better every match. This is something we want to maintain as we look ahead to the rest of the campaign,” he added.
T&T start team (in photo)
Back Row: (L-R): Renee Mike, Zoe Swift, Jasandra Joseph, Tamara Johnson, Nicolette Craig
Front Row (L-R): Amaya Ellis, Chelcy Ralph, Shanelle Arjoon, Chevonne John, Dennecia Prince, Abishai Guy