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The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-17 Team got their first win of the 2026 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers tonight, as they trounced Barbados 8-2 at the Stadion Rignaal ‘Jean’ Francisca in Willemstad, Curaçao.
After a 2-2 draw against Curaçao on Saturday, the Women Soca Warriors needed a lopsided result to boost their chances of advancing to the Concacaf Championship.
(via TTFA Media.)
Only the group winners are sure to progress, along with the best two runners-up from six groups. And El Salvador opened their account with a 6-0 win over Barbados on Monday.
From kickoff, coach Ayana Russell’s troops made it clear that they had a big score in mind as they streamed forward at every opportunity.
Captain Sanni Wilson created two excellent scoring opportunities for her teammates within the first five minutes—both gone abegging—before she got the opener herself in the 10th minute, after a calamitous mix-up at the back between Barbados defender Ammeirah Griffith and goalkeeper Roshauna Massiah.
(via TTFA Media.)
Barbados pulled level, two minutes later, with a vicious dipping free kick from distance by defender Gabrielle Birmingham. But Wilson restored Trinidad and Tobago’s lead with a tidy close ranged finish in the 17th minute, after a pass from playmaker Jade Jones, and the Women Soca Warriors never looked back.
Fourteen-year-old flanker Shiyah Matthews got the Warriors’ third with a header from point blank range off a Jones corner kick in the 33rd minute, while Rori Gittens and Torie Jean-Jacques stretched the lead even further with long range strikes that Massiah failed to deal with.
Trinidad and Tobago did not lose their appetite at the interval either, as they grabbed three more goals in the second half.
Matthews, 14, got her first competitive international goal against Barbados on 28 January 2026.
(via TTFA Media.)
Chelsea John, who gave a fine showing in central midfield, headed in from a Gittens corner in the 50th minute, Jean-Jacques produced a clinical finish off a loose ball in the 54th minute and Jones rounded off the summary from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.
The Trinidad and Tobago penalty kick was awarded for a high boot by Barbados forward Danika Antoine into the face of opposing defender Hackeemar Goodridge in the box.
Goodridge was taken out of the game by stretcher, and Russell would hope she is available when Trinidad and Tobago face El Salvador on Sunday 1 February.
(via TTFA Media.)
Barbados did get a second half goal themselves, as right back Jessica Nesbitt upended forward Janiyah Nurse in the area. Birmingham completed her double from the spot.
But Trinidad and Tobago ran out 8-2 winners to finish atop Group F, having played one game more than El Salvador and Curaçao. Whatever the result when those two nations meet on Friday, the Women Warriors must win on Sunday to advance.
(Team)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 21.Zofia Richards (GK); 2.Jessica Nesbitt, 4.Layla Gregoire, 3.Hackeemar Goodridge (16.Gyasi Lewis 72), 5.Mateja Leben; 8.Chelsea John, 6.Rori Gittens, 10.Jade Jones; 7.Shiyah Matthews (17.Shemaiah Toussaint 70), 9.Tori Jean-Jacques, 11.Sanni Wilson (captain).
Unused substitutes: 1.Saiya Smith (GK), 18.Alexia Dolland (GK), 12.Sydney Pollard, 13.Giuliana Meyer, 14.Gianna Changar, 15.Zyesha Potts, 19.Khloe Kirton, 20.Alia Toussaint.
Coach: Ayana Russell.
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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.
