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The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team are through to the 2022 Concacaf W Championship after a last-gasp Lauryn Hutchinson equaliser denied Guyana an upset victory at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.
Guyana needed a win to top Group F but, in the end, had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the decisive fixture.
Twice, the ‘Lady Jags’ took the lead through defender Sydney Cummings. On each occasion, Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Kimika Forbes would feel she should have done better.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
But the Women Soca Warriors would not be denied. First, playmaker Asha James levelled the scores at 1-1 from the penalty spot, after Guyana defender Briana De Souza clumsily upended Trinidad and Tobago forward Maria-Frances Serrant—just 53 seconds into the second half.
James, a Tobagonian, was replaced by Hutchinson in the 84th minute. And, not for the first time, the utility player justified her coach’s faith as she was on spot to snatch the decisive goal following a Serrant header, which rebounded off the upright.
Guyana could not muster a response as the Women Soca Warriors were roared over the finish line by over 7,000 spectators at Bacolet.
It was the second successive occasion that Trinidad and Tobago bettered Guyana with a tied result, after the Men’s National Senior Team edged their Guyanese counterparts to the Courts Caribbean Classic exhibition trophy last month with a late 1-1 draw.
Today’s result, in a highly charged competitive fixture, was more seismic.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Kimika Forbes (GK); 6.Shadi Cecily Stoute, 8.Victoria Swift, 4.Rhea Belgrave, 15.Kedie Johnson (17.Maya Matouk 84); 7.Liana Hinds, 14.Karyn Forbes (captain); 16.Cayla Mc Farlane (2.Chelsi Jadoo 75), 10.Asha James (20.Lauryn Hutchinson 84), 11.Raenah Campbell (12.Chelcy Ralph 75); 18.Maria-Frances Serrant.
Unused substitutes: 21.Tenesha Palmer (GK), 22.K’lil Keshwar (GK), 9.Amaya Ellis, 19.Sarah De Gannes, 23.Aaliyah Trim.
Coach: Kenwyne Jones
Guyana (4-1-2-3): 1.Chanté Sandiford (GK); 20.Brianne Desa, 5.Sydney Cummings, 11.Briana De Souza (3.Tiandi Smith 80), 6.Ghilene Joseph (8.Shanice Alfred 59); 4.Kayla De Souza (captain); 7.Justine Rodrigues, 16.Stefani Kouzas; 15.Calaigh Copland, 13.Annalisa Vincent (17.Neema Liverpool 88), 12.Otesha Charles (14.Brittany Persaud 80).
Unused substitutes: 18.Natalie Nedd (GK), 22.Raven Edwards-Dowdall (GK), 2.Rylee Traicoff, 9.Lakeisha Pearson, 10.Hannah Baptiste, 19.Reece Scott, 21.Mariam El-Masri, 23.Shyla Murray.
Coach: Dr Ivan Joseph
Referee: Francia Gonzales (Mexico)
Concacaf W Championship qualifier
(12 April 2022)
Trinidad and Tobago 2 (Asha James 48 (pen), Lauryn Hutchinson 89), Guyana 2 (Sydney Cummings 44, 81) at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.
Editor’s Note: Click HERE to read full match report.
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Is it time to “work” with another goalkeeper? Could the goalkeeper be taught how to keep her composure in the closing minutes of a game?
After watching Trinidad qualify “by the skin of their teeth“, one cannot help but point out areas of weakness, weaknesses that need to be fixed in order to compete at the next level.
The forwards/strikers appear to be a step slower than the defenders. Almost every pass made out of the midfield was lost, in a foot race with the defense.
Given the lack of practice time as a team, the onus may be on the individual players to help “improve” their weakness. Some discipline and time would be needed. There is access to unlimited amount of information for an athlete who wishes to improve his/her speed, without and with the ball. Hopefully, at the next team practices, some attention would be placed on having forwards/strikers play “together” in the penalty area. Better (and quicker) decisions are needed in and around the box. Great goal scorers learn to “relax and pass the ball into the net”.