Martin delivers four-star showing, as T&T U-17s thump USVI 5-0 in Concacaf opener

Sixteen-year-old Orielle Martin gave Trinidad and Tobago football fans another glimpse of her rare talent yesterday as the Women’s National Under-17 Team kicked off their Concacaf Women’s U-17 qualifying campaign with a 5-0 win over the United States Virgin Islands at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Martin led her team’s offensive line with four goals and it was only after she was withdrawn to the bench that another Trinidad and Tobago player—in this case, substitute Mia Lee Chong—was able to get on the score sheet.

After a similarly masterful individual showing during last month’s Jewels of the Caribbean Under-20 tournament, Martin’s influence has soared to the point that coach Ayana Russell was asked whether she was concerned about growing too dependent on their number 10.

Russell could have bigger problems than catering to a generational talent, though. And her eyes sparkled as she discussed Martin.

“Everybody knows what Orielle Martin can do once she is focused,” said the national coach, at the post-game press conference. “[…] And it’s a team game [so] even if the others aren’t scoring, they are helping.

“As I said, Orielle Martin is a special case—so no worries there.”

The result moved Trinidad and Tobago top of Group B on goal difference, after Honduras defeated Belize 2-0 in the first game of a Couva double header. But things will get tougher from here on for the Women Soca Warriors.

Russell’s troops face a better prepared Belize team on Wednesday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium while, on Friday, there will be plenty on the line when Trinidad and Tobago tackle Honduras.

So far, so good?

“I thought we met most of our objectives,” said Russell. “We just didn’t put the ball in the back of the net as much as we would have liked. But the girls had a good performance.”

Trinidad and Tobago established their dominance fairly early against opponents who kept turning the ball over, in vain attempts to build-up into their midfield area.

Flankers Sanni Wilson and Rasheda Archer combined to give USVI their first alarm in the 12th minute, as Archer got on to Wilson’s cross into the penalty area but slapped her effort off the underside of the bar.

Archer threatened again in the 24th minute with a low left footed shot that just missed the near post, after her fake and electric change of pace sent USVI teammates Vigga Tyson and Camille Chambers slamming into each other.

But, not for the first time, Martin was the one who decided the contest.

In the 27th minute, magic Martin opened the scoring with a clever shimmy around opposing defender Lauren Jones before rifling her left-footed effort beyond goalkeeper Kyliz Osorio.

Two minutes later, Martin doubled up—this time uncorking a sweet hit into the far corner off her right boot, after USVI failed to get distance on a clearance from a Trinidad and Tobago corner kick.

Archer had a handful of chances to score as the Women Warriors peppered Osorio in the opposing goal.

USVI coach Vin Blaine, perhaps nervous at his goalkeeper’s suspect handling, brought on deputy Isabella Quezada in the 53rd minute. And Quezada had an early triumph as she kept out a penalty kick from Martin in the 58th minute.

It was only a temporary reprieve. Martin got her hattrick in the 60th minute with a low left footed drive of appreciable technique from the edge of the opposing area, which nestled into the far corner.

Seven minutes later, she got her fourth off a deflected shot, which looped over Quezada.

What exactly is Martin’s ceiling as a player? A midfield playmaker asked to play at centre forward, she can shoot with either foot, pick out a pass, deliver swerving set pieces, and dribble around opponents like cones.

Honduras will surely be a truer test of her current capabilities, but there is no doubting Martin’s ability.

“We know what she can do, she can score goals,” said Russell, who explained her decision to use the teenager at centre forward. “And she still hasn’t done half of what—you all may not see it—but she still hasn’t done half of what she can do!

“As she continues to build her confidence that [centre forward position] is where we need her.”

Russell replaced Martin with 15 minutes to go and, perhaps unsurprisingly, USVI had their best attacking period of the game after that, as they registered their first shot of the match—albeit an attempt that missed the target altogether by flanker Olivia Crikelair.

In the 88th minute, Lee Chong rounded off the summary with a cracking angled strike after collecting the ball in the opposing area from fellow substitute Madison Campbell.

Incidentally, Lee Chong was listed on the team sheet as ‘number 14’. But, with gifted Pleasantville Secondary student Nikita Gosine choosing to skip the tournament, Lee Chong wore the ‘number 9’ jersey instead.

Russell suggested she was most pained by the fact that Concacaf rules did not allow her to replace Gosine and use up her full quota of 21 players.

“For me, the only thing I [regret] is not being able to give another player the opportunity to be in the squad—because we couldn’t change [our original team] outside of injury,” said the coach. “But other than that, I am very happy with the 20 players I have to work with.”

Trinidad and Tobago showcased a new gem in giant deep-lying midfielder Aniya Thompson, while Wilson and Archer both offered menace on the flank and the back four of Mikaela Yearwood, Kaitlyn Darwent, Hackeemar Goodridge, and captain Kanika Rodriguez looked solid.

Arguably, the hosts were often passive defensively as they waited for bad passes rather than forced them, while their ball movement and decision making could improve. But, that said, Trinidad and Tobago were the far superior side.

“We got five goals, which is very good—but we wanted a little bit more,” said Russell. “Defensively, in transition, I thought we were really good [and] we didn’t get challenged too much.

“We knew they were going to come and play the long balls so I think the girls were prepared for that and dealt with it very well. They got a little bit complacent at times but for the most part, as a collective effort, I thought the performance was good.”

Belize are up next. Only the group winners are certain to advance to the final round, along with two of the best second placed teams from the six groups. And Russell would be mindful that Turks and Caicos Islands conceded nine goals without reply from Panama yesterday while Anguilla lost 9-0 to El Salvador.

Trinidad and Tobago need a handful of goals against a more organised Belize team tomorrow, or they will require a win over Honduras on Friday.

Martin, you suspect, would be key to either result.

Teams

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Zaira Aimey (GK); 15.Kanika Rodriguez (captain), 17.Mikaela Yearwood, 2.Kaitlyn Darwent, 3.Hackeemar Goodridge; 6.Cherina Steele, 4.Aniya Thompson (9.Mia Lee Chong 46), 12.Rori Gittens (8.Ty’kaiya Dennis 68); 11.Sanni Wilson (19.Jayda Herbert 46), 10.Orielle Martin (16.Madison Campbell 75), 7.Rasheda Archer (13.Zyesha Potts 86).

Unused substitutes: 18.Kenisha Taylor (GK), 21.Zofia Richards (GK), 5.Daniella Paul, 20.Jessica Nesbitt.

Coach: Ayana Russell

USVI (4-4-2): 1.Kyliz Osorio (GK) (18.Isabella Quezada GK 53); 11.Yahsenah Leo (7.Vigga Tyson 13), 4.Makayla Walcott, 14.Lauren Jones, 2.Neah Williams (16.Chaney Smith 75); 8.Camille Chambers (captain), 13.Hana Bronstein (6.Norma Tyson 53), 17.Angelina Quezada, 5.Olivia Crikelair; 9.Mylee Bendinelli, 10.Gabriella Quezada.

Unused substitutes: 3.Jade Browne, 12.Yadayyah Leo, 15.Taliyah Sextius.

Coach: Vin Blaine

Referee: Glenda Lopez (Guatemala)

Concacaf Women’s Under-14 Qualifiers

Group B

(Mon 27 January)

Honduras 2 (Jazlyn Sanchez 6, Alexandra Merriam 90+4), Belize 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 5 (Orielle Martin 27, 29, 60, 67, Mia Lee Chong 88), USVI 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Wednesday 29 January)

Honduras vs USVI, 5pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago vs Belize, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Friday 31 January)

Belize vs USVI, 5pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago vs Honduras, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.