T&T Under-20 Women footballers bowed out of the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championships in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night (March 1) following a 5-0 loss to eventual Group A winners Canada at the Estadio Panamerican in San Cristobal.
The Canadians underscored their dominance with a tally of 38 shots at the T&T goal to T&T’s zero attempts, a statistic that may not have come as a surprise to many. T&T’s under-preparedness were clearly evident in a match that they were literally pinned to their own half by the sweeping Canadians for the entire game.
Following T&T’s defeats to El Salvador (3-0) in their opening match and then St Kitts and Nevis (7-2), coach Jason Spence went for a more defensive 5:4:1 format of play that didn’t have the desired effect.
In the 37th minute, Canada’s Annika Leslie raced into the area to meet sweetly on the head a left sided cross, but goalkeeper Akyla Walcott could only parry it into the path of a lurking Holly Noushin Ward to stab home for a 1-0 scoreline.
It was the lone goal for the Canadians although their tally showed 17 shots at goal. T&T struggled to hold on to the ball as the Canadians played a high-pressing game.
After the resumption, it was more of the same as the Canadians dominating proceedings. And it didn’t take them too long to extend their advantage. Leslie who had a free time down the left flank would centre for Serita Joy Thurton to head past Walcott in the T&T goal in the 49th minute.
Later, Leslie was again the architect taking the ball down the left flank before handing to Keera Michele Melenhorst to rifle beyond the outstretched arms of Walcott into the top right hand corner in the 58th minute.
Six minutes later, the Canadians were rewarded with their fourth goal. Thurton moved down the right side before releasing nicely for Flroianne Jourde to fire powerfully into the roof of the net for a 4-0 scoreline in the 64th minute.
Unable to stem their appetite, the Canadians got another goal. Substitute Olivia Smith dashed inside the area to head a left side cross on to the right upright and Kaila Novak, another substitute, to head home on the stroke of regulation time.
The Canadians advanced for a possible meeting with the United States while Spence and his charges will return home.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (5-4-1): 1.Akyla Walcott (GK); 2.Ashante Wilson-Campbell, 4.Latifha Pascall, 6.Chrissy Mitchell, 5.Derisha Bristol, 3.Moenesa Mejias; 10.Maria-Frances Serrant (captain), 7.Sarah De Gannes, 8.Marley Walker, 20.Darrianne Henry; 19.Shurelia Mendez (15.Ternia St Clair 65).
Unused substitutes: 16.Chelsea Ramnauth (GK), 9.Tori Paul, 11.Charlize Hood, 12.Celine Loraine, 13.Aaliyah Trim, 14.Lillian Selvon, 17.Jhelysse Anthony.
Coach: Jason Spence
Canada (4-2-3-1): 1.Anna Karpenko (GK); 15.Elisabeth Tse (14.Brooklyn Courtnall 46), 4.Jade Rose (captain) (3.Mia Pante 62), 12.Vivianne Besette, 5.Annika Leslie (vice-captain); 6.Vanessa Frelih, 13.Simi Awujo (11.Kaila Novak 62); 19.Serita Thurton (18.Olivia Smith 75), 16.Keera Melenhorst, 7.Florianne Jourde; 17.Holly Ward (9.Miya Grant-Clavijo 46).
Unused substitutes: 20.Sierra Giorgio (GK), 2.Zoe Burns, 10.Nikayla Small.
Coach: Cindy Tye
Referee: Tatiana Guzmán (Nicaragua)
WATCH CWU20 2022 Highlights: Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago