This country’s Under-20 Women Soca Warriors will be going after their first points in two matches when they meet Honduras in a feature match of a Group A double-header in the Concacaf Under-20 Championship at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sulam from 7.30pm tonight.
The Jason Spence-coached T&T squad enters the match as the last-placed team in the four-nation group after going under to Canada 2-0 in the eight-team tournament opener at the same venue on Thursday night. Honduras drew 2-2 with Jamaica in the night’s second match.
Going into the tournament minus three of its key players and with less than ideal preparations, the Under-20 Women Soca Warriors were heavy underdogs, but still produced a valiant effort, which in the end was not quite enough.
Sarah Kinzner netted first with a shot from distance in the 16th minute which it took into the break. Martina Loncar struck late in the match, eight minutes from time, to push Canada to the top of the table.
Speaking after the match Spence said his team produced a fighting display against the stronger Canadian side.
“It was clear that this Canadian team is together playing for a long time and has lots of experience,” Spence said.
“We made life quite frustrating for them as we stuck to our shape and we were disciplined for the most part of the match. Unfortunately we have to use the games in the tournament also as our warm up games,” he added.
“Nevertheless I am pleased with the way and the discipline shown by the team tonight. We will certainly be building on this game. We lost the game in two moments of not shutting down the play quick enough.
“The positives certainly are that we have shown growth in the way and methods we use at this level the scoreline in the Concacaf Under-17 qualifier two years ago was a 11-0 victory for Canada from which the same core of players were involved. So clearly we have closed the gap and certainly if we had gotten the preparation I asked for and we arrived in Honduras earlier it would have put us in a better position psychologically and physically.
“Credit definitely has to be given to the players for literally jumping off a plane to face a power house in Women football and give a gallant solid showing,” Spence continued.
Reflecting on the performance of the team, Spence was quick to point out that goalkeeper Rebecca Almondoz was certainly a bright spark.
Looking ahead to his team’s next match, the T&T coach added, “Jamaica and Honduras drew 2-2 and it was a result I was hoping for as it now leaves the group within reach as we dropped three points and both Honduras and Jamaica dropped two points each, and we still have them both to play.”
For the Jamaica, Khadija Shaw was the star, responding on both occasions after Elexa Bahr twice gave the host a lead.
Bahr put the Hondurans ahead 1-0 in the fourth minute with a delightful right-footed free kick from near the top of the arc that beat scrambling goalkeeper Shanay Ricketts at the right post.
The Reggae Girlz equalised in the 23rd minute as Shaw converted from the penalty spot after Cherry Velasquez fouled Chanel Hudson-Marks in the box.
Two minutes before the break, Bahr restored the Catrachas’ advantage, nodding Jinan Abdalah’s right-sided cross into the back of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.
In the 73rd minute, Shaw put the sides back on level terms. Shifting play off the dribble from right to left, the 18-year-old was given ample space by Honduran defense. Once she neared the middle, Shaw snapped off a low, left-footed shot from 25-yards out that goalkeeper Madelinne Nieto could not reach with a dive near the right post. Tonight, Jamaica squares off against Canada from 5pm.
Last night, Group A kicked off with Haiti up against Panama, and three-time defending champions USA versus Mexico.