T&T “Soca Princesses” blanked host Dominican Republic 3-0 in their Caribbean Football Union Under-20 qualifier at the Estadion Panamericano in San Cristobal on Tuesday evening.
Goals by Shanisa Camejo in the 38th, Shenelle Henry in the 45th and Patrice Campbell seven minutes in to the second-half sealed the victory for the visitors to get their campaign off and running ahead of today’s final group match against Aruba.
The match was played under muddy field conditions caused by heavy showers. Dominican Republic is currently under a tropical storm watch but team officials indicated that the T&T contingent was in a secure location and not in a state of panic.
Coach Izler Browne speaking after the match said she was satisfied with the team’s win.
“This was a tremendous win for a team with one month preparation. We didn't play the best game but they gave a decent performance and we got the victory.
“Scoring twice in the first-half after a passive start was a great cushion going into the secondhalf and the third goal came in the 50th minute of play which put us comfortably in the drivers seat,” Browne added.
On Sunday, Aruba and Dominican Republic will meet in the final match of the round-robin group series after Bermuda, failed to show.
At the end of the series, the top two will advance to the CFU Finals carded for October from which teams will qualify to the Concacaf Under-20 Championships for next year’s Fifa 2014 Women’s World Cup in Canada.
The local Soca Princesses are hoping to go one round better than the previous Under-20 women’s team which failed to get to the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championship after drawing with Cuba 1-1, losing to Puerto Rico 1-0 and edging Guyana by a similar 1-0 margin during their CFU group 2012 qualifiers for Japan.
T&T Starting Line up: - Kerri Myers (GK) Daniele Findley, Shanisa Camejo, Patrice Campbell, Otisha David, Marlique Asson, Shenelle Henry, Anique Walker (Capt) Khadisha Debesette, Khadidra Debesette and Jenette Wilson.