One of three opportunities for this country to qualify for its first ever Fifa Women's World Cup was lost last evening after T&T fell to Costa Rica via a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw at the semifinal stage of the Concacaf Women's Championship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.T&T was outscored 3-0 in the deciding kicks after the "Women Soca Warriors" clawed their way back into the match against a better Costa Rica team. The winner will meet either USA or Mexico (in action in the second semifinal after press time) in the third-place playoff tomorrow. That third-place match will give T&T yet another opportunity at becoming the first team from the Caribbean to qualify for a Fifa Women's World Cup.
If T&T fails to win its third-place playoff, the team will once again attempt to qualify via a "half spot" in an intercontinental two-legged playoff against Ecuador, later this year.The "Women Soca Warriors" were far from their best, particularly in the first half, during which the team was unable to register an attempt on goal. Costa Rica on the other hand was in complete control and took the lead in the 19th minute through a livewire in Carolina Venegas, slipped past an uncharacteristically poor Arin King to slot home from a low cross.A half time reshuffle from coach Randy Waldrum, however, gradually saw an increase in momentum and opportunities created with the introduction of Mariah Shade, although Costa Rica's custodian Dinnia Diaz sat through the contest unchallenged.
T&T finally got the breakthrough in the 74th minute, from the least expected source, another half time substitute Lauryn Hutchinson, who connected the back of her head with a cross from King past Diaz.Costa Rica continued to press but last ditched tackles by Rhea Belgrave et al were the order of the day. And with no other breakthroughs, the match went into a nail-biting extra time. Both exhausted teams seemed content on allowing spot kicks to decide the outcome.However, before the referee blew for full time, she was forced to eject T&T's Rhea Belgrave from the match after the defender prevented a Costa Rican counter-attack with a second bookable offence.
In the end, it was Costa Rica that would celebrate its first ever qualification for the Women's World Cup.Diaz saved the soft spot kick attempts from Attin Johnson, Hutchinson and Shade, while Kimika Forbes, who came up big a number of times for T&T prior, was far from preventing Costa Rica's three converted efforts.T&T with a squad suffering with niggling injuries and exhaustion, will need to regroup against either one of two giants, USA or Mexico, without the services of Belgrave. Mexico finished second in its group after losing one match (1-0 to Costa Rica) and defeating Jamaica (3-1) and Martinique (10-0).
Line-Ups
n T&T: Kimika Forbes, Rhea Belgrave (red carded 120th), Arin King, Brianna Ryce, Maylee Attin Johnson, Karyn Forbes (Lauryn Hutchinson 46th), Liana Hinds, Tasha St Louis (Mariah Shade 46th), Ahkeela Mollon, Dernelle Mascall (Khadidra Debbesette 75th), Kennya Cordner.
Unused subs: Tinesha Palmer, Ayanna Russell, Khadisha Debbesette, Patrice Superville, Janine Francois, Anique Walker.
n Costa Rica: Dinnia Diaz, Diana Saenz, Carol Sanchez, Daniela Cruz, Lixy Rodriguez, Wendy Acosta, Shirley Cruz, Katherine Alvardo, Daphnne Herrera (Gabriela Guillen 99th), Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno, Carolina Venegas (Cristin Granados 63rd).
Unused subs: Yitliana Arroyo, Gabriela Guillen, Mariane Ugalde, Mariana Benavidez, Noelia Bermudez, Yesmi Rodriguez, Fabiola Sanchez, Gloriana Villalobos.
Costa Rica 1 (Carolina Venegas 19th) v T&T 1 (Lauryn Hutchinson 74th).
n Penalty shoot out
Katherine Alvarado
(CR)–scored
Maylee Attin Johnson
(TT)–saved
Carol Sanchez
(CR)–scored
Lauren Hutchinson
(TT)–saved
Wendy Acosta
(CR)–scored
Mariah Shade
(TT)–saved