Trinidad and Tobago are through to the 2025 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, but they had to take the back door to get there—in a nerve-wracking and sometimes ugly showdown with Honduras in qualifying action last night at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
At the final whistle, captain Kanika Rodriguez and her teammates slumped to the ground as Honduras celebrated their 1-0 win over the hosts.

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The emotion spilled over into the stands and the all-female team of match officials were pelted with ice cubes and a plastic water bottle as they tried to head towards their dressing room.
Guatemalan referee Glenda Lopez and her crew scampered back towards the field as they awaited police protection from partisan spectators.
However, within five minutes, the gloom lifted. Word came to the bench that the Women Soca Warriors qualified as one of the two best runners-up in the qualifying series, and suddenly the girls were screaming in delight and dancing in front of the same spectators.
The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-17 Team survived—but there were many lessons to learn in Couva last night, on and off the pitch.

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“It was such a blessing to be part of,” said head coach Ayana Russell, who was a player when the Women Warriors came within one point of a spot at the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup. “The girls left it all on the pitch.
“Today we came in and we said we ride down ‘til we lie down as a team. They did everything that was asked of them and I’m really, really proud.”
Against a physical Honduras team that was well versed in the dark arts of the game, the Trinidad and Tobago girls did not shy away from the confrontations and fought tooth and nail to defend their turf.
But, arguably, that was the easier bit. The true test of courage was to go out and dictate terms to Honduras with the ball. And here the Women Warriors struggled.

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In the earlier group stage matches, Trinidad and Tobago faced a disorganised press by the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and none at all from Belize, which allowed the hosts to easily work into the midfield region from where they could spring their winged weapons: Rasheda Archer and either of Sanni Wilson or Ty’Kaiya Dennis.
Honduras pressed high though and after two close shaves in which they lost possession on the edge of their own penalty areas and conceded free kicks, Russell ordered her girls to kick the ball long.
“They were pressing and [our defenders] didn’t recognise that,” said Russell. “We build out of the back but the changes needed to happen when they saw that they were pressing.

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“The adjustment took long to come and we as a staff had to tell them to switch it up and go longer.”
The results were, at best, mixed. Trinidad and Tobago were not vulnerable to turnovers in their defensive third. But then with the two best attacking players on the field, forward Orielle Martin and Archer, the Warriors could not safely and consistently manoeuvre the ball into areas that could hurt Honduras.
“It worked a little bit better,” said Russell, about Trinidad and Tobago’s long ball tactics.

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She added: “The ball was going back and forth, but so it [goes] sometimes.”
Trinidad and Tobago only needed a draw to advance. So perhaps it was not worth the risk necessary to play a passing game. Perhaps.
At the other end, Honduras had their problems too.

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Trinidad and Tobago do not press. Instead, the front three stand off and wait to engage their opponents midway in the opposition’s half of the field.
So Honduras started the ball short, under no duress. And then, under no pressure and with all of their opponents behind the ball, the Central American nation whacked the ball forward anyway.
Basically, Trinidad and Tobago were too nervous to play the ball through their opposition. And the Honduras players were never coached to do so.

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It made for a scrappy, tense affair with sides hoping to capitalise on a mistake from the opposition; or, less likely in the circumstances, a moment of inspiration from one of their stand-outs.
Honduras had just three peeps from open play across 90 minutes of football.
In the third minute, flanker Stephany Mercado slipped behind Trinidad and Tobago left back Hackeemar Goodridge to receive the ball and whipped in a cross that goalkeeper Zaira Aimey palmed into the part of Honduras left winger Jazlyn Sanchez.

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As Sanchez shaped to shoot, Wilson nudged her in the back. It was just enough to throw the Honduran attacker off balance, but not enough to give the referee an easy call for a penalty.
Then, in the 40th minute, Sanchez showed some clever footwork down the left flank to bore into the box. But the Trinidad and Tobago rear guard was defiant, with Aimey also playing her part in thwarting the danger.
Sanchez was again involved, midway through the second half, as she cut across Goodridge and into the Trinidad and Tobago box—only for Aimey to dive at her feet to smother the opportunity.

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Three half chances at best. Central defender Mikaela Yearwood and company could be proud of restricting Honduras to that.
At the other end, although never fluent, Trinidad and Tobago did look dangerous whenever Martin was able to turn—and it happened a handful of times. And, after Archer and Martin appeared to be on totally different frequencies against Belize on Wednesday, there were signs that the pair could work together last night.
Trinidad and Tobago seemed a united bunch in tough circumstances, and that was encouraging.

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However, the attackers in red, white and black were often isolated—surely a by-product of chasing long balls—and lacked the support or consistent service to do the damage they were capable of inflicting.
Russell pointed to some positional issues too.
“We kept closing the field (by our wingers coming inside to look for the ball), which is an area that we discussed,” said Russell, who credited Honduras for doing their homework on the flanks. “That is an area we also have to address. Both of our wingers are quick and we have to capitalise on it.

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“[…] We are still not connecting enough in the attacking third. That is definitely an area where we have to do a lot of work.”
A draw would have been fair. But life is not always fair.
Honduras sent numbers into the opposing box for set pieces, no matter the distance. And in the 75th minute, they got their reward—as Aimey failed to deal with a delivery from opposing central defender Ilsy Sevilla and midfielder Paula Ramirez Guardiola was on spot to bundle the ball over the line with her midriff.

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The breakthrough for the visitors came just four minutes after Trinidad and Tobago lost key defender Kaitlyn Darwent to a groin injury, with Russell forced to rejig her back line.
Rodriguez went from right back to the left side of the defence, while Goodridge joined Yearwood in a central position and substitute Jessica Nesbitt—in her first appearance of the tournament—came on at right back.
The Ato Boldon Stadium was stunned into silence. But only momentarily.

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“T&T,” they sang, in response, “we want a goal!”
There were just over 200 supporters in Couva on Monday, when Trinidad and Tobago whipped USVI 5-0. Roughly 345 persons watched the young Women Soca Warriors down Belize 2-0 on Wednesday.
Yesterday, the official attendance was 805 supporters.

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Sure, it may not sound like a lot. But these were real fans, who backed the girls at every turn—roaring their support, urging them towards a result.
“I must say we appreciated Trinidad and Tobago—thank you so much for coming out and support the girls,” said Russell. “The girls appreciated the love and energy that helped them on the field. So, let’s keep it going!
“We are back here on February 20 (for the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Qualifiers), so full support!”

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But the Under-17 Girls could not produce the flourish that they wanted. Twice in the closing 10 minutes, Martin dribbled past two opponents to carve open an opening. On each occasion, it finished with a Trinidad and Tobago attacker kicking into a Honduran blocker.
Arguably, a moment in the 88th minute captured Trinidad and Tobago’s issues on the night. Rodriguez took possession in an orthodox left back position and midfielder Rori Gittens presented herself at an angle as a passing option, to help advance the ball safely.
Instead, Rodriguez blasted a long ball towards Martin who, with two powerful defenders in close attendance, was overpowered.

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Aimey’s mistake settled the match. But she certainly was not the only culpable player in red.
In the second minute of stoppage time, a frustrated Dennis stamped out at Honduras right back Nohemy Meza and was very lucky to only receive a yellow card.
After the final whistle, a few unruly Trinidad and Tobago fans only remembered the calls that went against their team—as they tossed objects at the officials.

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“It is a culture we are trying to develop and that is not how we behave,” said Russell. “Everybody has their job to do. The officials have their jobs to do and we have to respect it, even if we don’t agree with it.”
Then came word from the other groups. Cuba and Guatemala could have both finished ahead of Trinidad and Tobago if they managed draws in their final matches. But they did not even come close.
Cuba lost 8-2 to Panama in Santo Domingo, while Guatemala crumbled 7-0 to El Salvador in Nicaragua.

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Trinidad and Tobago players exploded with joy, as they danced in front of supporters.
“This result means everything to the girls,” said Russell. “They want to keep this journey going on.”
The Concacaf U-17 Championship kicks off on 21 March, with four from the eight teams assured of qualification to the corresponding Fifa World Cup in Qatar.

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Before then, more than half of Russell’s team are expected to suit up with the Under-20 outfit for the Under-20 qualifying action, which will again be played in Trinidad.
This time, the junior Women Soca Warriors are grouped with Canada, Bermuda and Dominica. And only the group winner survives.
Testing times ahead then.

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Teams
Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Zaira Aimey (GK); 15.Kanika Rodriguez (captain), 17.Mikaela Yearwood, 2.Kaitlyn Darwent (20.Jessica Nesbitt 71), 3.Hackeemar Goodridge; 9.Mia Lee Chong (8.Ty’kaiya Dennis 57), 6.Cherina Steele, 12.Rori Gittens; 7.Rasheda Archer, 10.Orielle Martin, 11.Sanni Wilson.
Unused substitutes: 18.Kenisha Taylor (GK), 21.Zofia Richards (GK), 4.Aniya Thompson, 5.Daniella Paul, 13.Zyesha Potts, 16.Madison Campbell, 19.Jayda Herbert.
Coach: Ayana Russell
Honduras (4-2-3-1): 1.Maria Jiminez (GK); 13.Nohemy Meza, 16.Ilsy Sevilla, 2.Yensi Ferrera (captain), 18.Evelin Ordonez; 5.Natalia Garcia, 8.Paula Ramirez Guardiola (4.Andrea Pineda 84); 6.Stephany Mercado, 9.Chelsea Farmer (19.Allanys Santos 90+2), 17.Jazlyn Sanchez; 10.Alexandra Merriam.
Unused substitutes: 12.Mia Heyer (GK), 21.Kimberly Rodriguez (GK), 3.Emma Munoz, 7.Dennise Madrid, 11.Kendely Varela, 14.Andrea Erazo, 15.Ashley Escalante, 20.Liz Manueles.
Coach: Mario Abadia
Referee: Glenda Lopez (Guatemala)

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Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers
Group B
(Friday 31 January)
Belize 3 (Shanalee Smith [3]), USVI 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Trinidad and Tobago 0, Honduras 1 (Paula Ramirez Guardiola 75) at Ato Boldon Stadium.

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(Wednesday 29 January)
Honduras 4 (Jazlyn Sanchex 10, 16, Alexandra Merriam 54, Stephany Mercado 67), USVI 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Trinidad and Tobago 2 (Cherina Steele 30, Rori Gittens 49), Belize 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium.

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(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.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.