T&T's senior women's team virtually secured a spot in the semifinal round of the US-hosted Concacaf Women's Championship last night with a 2-1 win over Guatemala, but needed only a draw or win for the USA over Haiti to confirm the deal.
The latter two teams kicked off the final Group A match after press time last night.
Kennya "Yaya" Cordner scored her second goal in as many matches to give T&T a 1-0 lead in the 73th minute after Ahkeela Mollon, who also had the assist in the win over Haiti, yet again combined with a perfect cross. Then, Maylee Attin Johnson sealed the win with a converted penalty in the 82nd minute.
T&T managed to hold on for the win, but switched off in the first minute of time-added-on when Guatemala's Maria Amanda Monterroso scored a header off a freekick.
The "Women Soca Warriors" controlled much of the match as they did against Haiti, but were unconvincing in front of goal. T&T outshot Guatemala 14-5, enjoyed majority possession and managed to avoid any further suspensions for the semifinal.
The result followed up on T&T's opening match 1-0 loss to the US last Wednesday and the 1-0 victory over Haiti two days later.
A win or draw for the USA last night would have meant the host team topped Group A, while T&T would finish second. For T&T to fail to qualify for the semifinals, Haiti would have had to secure an unlikely 3-0 win over the USA.
The qualified teams are determined on a head-to-head basis if only two teams are tied on the same number of points after three matches. If three teams are joint on points, the team or teams to advance would be determined through goal-difference.
If T&T finished second in its group, the team would have qualified to meet Group B winner Costa Rica in the second semifinal in Chester, Washington.
Both semifinals will be played on Friday, before the third-place playoff and the final on Sunday.
The two finalists as well as the winner of the third-place playoff will qualify for next year's World Cup in Canada, while the fourth-placed finisher will meet Ecuador of Comnebol in a two-match playoff for the final qualifier from the two confederations.
Line-ups
T&T
Tinesha Palmer, Rhea Belgrave, Arin King, Brianna Ryce (Janine Francois 89th), Lauren Hutchinson, Maylee Attin Johnson, Liana Hinds, Dernelle Marscall, Ahkeela Mollon (Ayanna Russell 82nd), Anique Walker (Mariah Shade 52nd), Kennya Cordner.
Unused subs: Khadisha Debesette, Khadidra Debesette, Patrice Stollmeyer, Karyn Forbes, Tasha St Louis.
Guatemala
Alicia Navas, Daniela Andrade (Diana Barrera 86th), Londy Barrios, Gloria Aguilar, Coralia Monterroso, Marilyn Rivera, Mia Espino, Maria Monterroso, Kimberly DeLeon, Ana Martinez, Aisha Solorzano (Cristian Recinos 86th).
Unused subs: Yoselin Franco, Kellin Mayen, Cinthya Lopez, Jennifer Barrios, Alida Argueta, Vilma Lopez de Paz, Melany Cayetano.
Group A result
T&T 2 (Kennya Cordner 74th, Maylee Attin Johnson 83rd) v Guatemala 1 (Maria Amanda Monterroso 90th)
Standings
Teams Pld W D L F A Pts
USA 2 2 0 0 6 0 6
T&T 3 2 0 1 3 1 6
Haiti 2 1 0 1 1 1 3
Guatemala 3 0 0 3 1 8 0