T&T’s hopes of securing a place in this year’s Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco (October–November) were left hanging by a thread Sunday when this country's football "Princesses" were spanked 7-0 by El Salvador in a must-win Group F encounter at the Stadion Rignaal ‘Jean’ Francisca in Willemstad, Curacao.
With four points from three matches, T&T was left hoping to advance as one of the best second-placed teams. Their survival required Barbados to defeat hosts Curacao in last night’s late fixture. Per tournament rules, only the group winners and the best two runners-up from Groups A and F earn the right to progress.
Sunday’s match, which should have been a battle for the top spot, turned into a stroll for El Salvador. Braces from Angie Alvarenga, Emma Torres, and Kylie Guardado exposed the T&T defensive structure. The win ensured the El Salvadorians cemented their place at the top of the group with nine points, following earlier wins over Barbados (5-0), host Curacao (2-0) and T&T 7-0.
T&T, coached by Ayanna Russell, had a shaky start to the qualifiers with a 2-2 draw against the hosts. However, confidence had peaked following an 8-2 demolition of Barbados which gave Russell and her charges hopes of progressing as one of the two top teams.
That momentum vanished as Alvarenga and company seized early control. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute. Midfielder Rori Gittens was adjudged to have fouled Shirley Rivera on the wide right side forcing referee Smeedly Saint Jean to order a free kick. Cristina Quintanilla delivered perfectly for Angie Alvarenga to head home.
Things got worse in the moments that followed as the El Salvadorians forced the T&T team to endure sustained pressure, which took its toll in the 45+1 minute. This time, Emma Torres took the chance with a long gape at goal and struck the ball low past goalkeeper Zofia Richards for a 2-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Alvarenga completed her brace with a low drive from outside of the T&T danger area that proved too wide for Richards to keep out.
T&T’s exit from the tournament seemed merely a matter of formality at this point, as attacks on the El Salvadorian goal were rare. Still, Russell’s challenge on the afternoon had been to stop the raging El Salvador attacks, which almost always ended in favour of the El Salvadorians.
Goals number four and five came from almost similar circumstances, with both Kaylen Alvarez and Kylie Guardado capitalising on openings they spotted from around the T&T goal area. And in both cases, Alvarez and Guardado got the ball past Richards in the 51st and the 58th minutes for a 5-0 lead.
Still, it was hardly enough to curb their thirst for goals, and in the 61st minute, Torres got her second and her team’s sixth goal of the match when she received a pass from Ariana Jones and lifted it high into the roof of the T&T goal.
Guardado then wrapped up the scoring with a thumping shot past Richards to confirm their entry into the final round of the qualifiers.
T&T TEAM
21 Zofia Richards (gk), 3 Hackeemar Goodridge, 13 Giuliana Meyer, 15 Zyesha Potts, 2 Jessica Nesbitt, 4 Layla Gregoire, 5 Mateja Leben, 6 Rori Gittens, 9 Torie Jean Jacques, 10 Jade Jones, 11 Sanni Wilson.
Subs
1 Saiya Smith (gk), 18 Alexia Dolland (gk), 12 Sydney Pollard, 7 Shiyah Matthews, 14 Gianna Changar, 7 Chelsea John, 16 Gyasi Lewis, 17 Shemaiah Toussaint, 19 Khloe Kirton, 20 Alia Toussaint.
