LIMA, Peru, CMC – Trinidad & Tobago conceded goals on either side of the halftime whistle and hosts Peru beat them 2-0 in the final of the women’s Pan American Challenge yesterday.
It was a heart-breaking loss for T&T, after they had played determinedly throughout the tournament to reach the final and qualify for the Pan American Cup from January 20 to 30 next year in Santiago, Chile.
T&T defended well for all but four minutes of the first half of the contest, when Peru won a penalty corner, after Ana Moccagatta tripped over the stick of Teresa Lazama a little outside the top of the striking circle.
Amanda George broke up the first penalty corner, when a shot from Victoria Montes ricocheted off the feet of the T&T defender, immediately earning the Peruvians a second successive penalty corner.
Second time around, Solange Alonso was unerring and smashed the ball through a crowd of players from the top of the striking circle to give the hosts the lead shortly before half-time.
In the final minute before the halftime whistle, Giann Sealy earned a temporary suspension for a green card, when she appeared to bundle down Peru captain Camila Mendez on the left flank in the T&T defensive quarter of the field.
After the halftime whistle, T&T tried to find the equaliser, but lacked the finishing power, and to make matters worse, Avion Ashton got entangled with Paloma Larrañaga on the left flank, near the centre line and was shown a yellow card in the 40th minute.
This precipitated the second Peruvian goal, which came from poor defending all-round from T&T.
Alonso was allowed the freedom to turn and crack a pass into the striking circle from off the left flank, and Marina Montes got in front of her defender in front of the T&T goal and diverted the ball past Arresia Sandy in the 44th minute.
In the final period, T&T tried to cut the deficit, but they lacked the final touch in the striking circle to make their mark.
They won a penalty corner in the penultimate minute of the match, but Shaniah de Freitas shot wide of the mark.
T&T earned their place in the final, after they beat Paraguay 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals on Friday.
During the preliminary round-robin stage, T&T finished second on five points, one point behind the Peruvians.
They completed the first round unbeaten as a last-minute goal from Brianna Govia secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Peru in their opening match, followed up with a 2-2 draw against Paraguay and a 1-1 draw against Brazil.
Because of the pandemic and a lack of competition, T&T slipped down the Pan Am rankings and they had to play the Challenge to seek qualification to next year’s Pan Am Cup.
