KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- Trinidad and Tobago defeated Cuba 3-1 to finish as group winners in a top-of-the-table clash of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under-20 tournament here Tuesday night.
The Trinidadians entered the game knowing that only a win would allow them to top group A with maximum nine points from three games and avoid a semi-final clash against Caribbean powerhouse Jamaica.
Patrice Campbell beat Cuban custodian Monica Padilla with a well-placed shot in the 40th minute to take the lead at Waterhouse Stadium.
But Cuba fought back and got the equaliser when Yoanina Conzales booted past goalkeeper Shamelia Christian in the 45th minute.
Anique Walker found the back of the net in the 67th minute as T and T regained the lead during end-to-end second half action on a soggy pitch.
Five minutes later, the Young Soca Warriors sealed the issue when Jonella Warrick converted.
“It was a very important win for us. We wanted to top the group to possibly avoid a semi-final meeting against Jamaica,” T&T coach Izler Browne told The Gleaner.
“We want to play the runner-up from the next group. We could have done better in the first half, as we got a number of scoring chances. But the girls stuck to the plan and we won the game”.
The semi-final games are scheduled for Friday at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Trench Town, St Andrew and the final will be played on Sunday at the same venue.
The two finalists will advance to the CONCACAF championship, the next stage in the World Cup qualifiers.
The qualifiers will join hosts Cayman Islands as the Caribbean representatives in the CONCACAF tournament in January.
