Despite their first defeat of the campaign, Trinidad and Tobago are still through to the CONCACAF W U17 Championships.
The Soca Princesses conceded their unbeaten record in the crucial Group B decider 1-0 to Honduras in their final fixture in the Concacaf W U17 Qualifier series Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
T&T secured their berth by virtue of a superior goal difference to the other second-placed teams in the other groups, coach Ayanna Russell’s team clinching one of the two second-placed qualifying spots.
A 76th minute tap-in by Paula Ramirez Guardiola, although not the cleanest of chances, earned a deserved result for the Central Americans who dominated play in the second half .
Honduras topped the group with three straight victories and nine points without conceding a goal in round-robin play.
T&T goalkeeper Zaira Aimey misjudged Honduras’ 45 metre free kick, at first advancing off her line before having to retreat. Aimey managed only to parry the ball into the path of a bunch of Honduran players near the goalline, Guardiola getting there first to stab home.
It was a cruel blow for Aimey who had positioned herself well both in the 63rd and 66th minutes to thwart a 35-metre effort from Jazlyn Sanchez and a weak shot from Chelsea Farmer deep in the T&T 18-yard box. respectively.
Earlier, the highlight of the first half was the contention between Honduras skipper Yensi Ferrera and T&T sharp-shooter Orielle Martin, both players earning yellow cards from referee Glenda Lopez.
But it was a first half that lacked the quality from both sides in the final third to make any dent in the scorecard, the lack of clinical finishing was highlighted when Sanchez failed to get a foot to a ball ricocheting around the T&T penalty area in the 40th minute.
Fortunately for the Princesses, the loss did not cost them dearly.
TEAMS
Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Zaira Aimey (GK); 15.Kanika Rodriguez (captain), 17.Mikaela Yearwood, 2.Kaitlyn Darwent (20.Jessica Nesbitt 71), 3.Hackeemar Goodridge; 9.Mia Lee Chong (8.Ty’kaiya Dennis 57), 6.Cherina Steele, 12.Rori Gittens; 7.Rasheda Archer, 10.Orielle Martin, 11.Sanni Wilson.
Unused substitutes: 18.Kenisha Taylor (GK), 21.Zofia Richards (GK), 4.Aniya Thompson, 5.Daniella Paul, 13.Zyesha Potts, 16.Madison Campbell, 19.Jayda Herbert.
Coach: Ayanna Russell
Honduras (4-2-3-1): 1.Maria Jiminez (GK); 13.Nohemy Meza, 16.Ilsy Sevilla, 2.Yensi Ferrera (captain), 18.Evelin Ordonez; 5.Natalia Garcia, 8.Paula Ramirez Guardiola (4.Andrea Pineda 84); 6.Stephany Mercado, 9.Chelsea Farmer (19.Allanys Santos 90+2), 17.Jazlyn Sanchez; 10.Alexandra Merriam.
Unused substitutes: 12.Mia Heyer (GK), 21.Kimberly Rodriguez (GK), 3.Emma Munoz, 7.Dennise Madrid, 11.Kendely Varela, 14.Andrea Erazo, 15.Ashley Escalante, 20.Liz Manueles.
Coach: Mario Abadia
Referee: Glenda Lopez (Guatemala)
SOURCE: T&T Express