The Lady Jaguars secured their second ever berth to the 2022 Concacaf Women’s U17 Championships after crushing an undermanned Turks and Caicos unit 6-0 in their final group-C qualifier yesterday at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, USA.
It was a lopsided engagement from kickoff, as Turks and Caicos played the entire match with nine players owing to roster issues. [Turks and Caicos entered the event with only 10 players.]
The Lady Jaguars starting XI consisted of Sidney Facey, Anostasha Coppin, Alyssa Blake, Akeelah Vancooten, Ciara Sarius, Nakasi St Jules, Karan Jupiter, Sue Edwards, Anaya Willabus, Jalade Trim and Sandra Johnson.
With the numerical advantage, Guyana ran rampant as the trident of Willabus, Trim and Johnson recorded respective braces, in the process securing the team’s second qualification to the prestigious age group tournament.
Guyana should have taken the lead early on after being awarded a penalty kick for an handball infraction in the 14th minute. However, Trim’s right footed effort was denied by the goalkeeper diving to her right.
Nonetheless, Trim would make amends in the 21st minute, delivering a perfectly weighted through pass which was received by Willabus inside the left of the box, and slotted into the right corner.
The score jumped to 2-0 in the 30th minute as Johnson scored. Receiving a pass from the right flank inside the centre of the box, Johnson rifled a flat left footed strike into the lower left corner.
The first half lead of 3-0 would be sealed eight minutes later compliments of Willabus, who slotted into the right corner, after a strike from the right of the box, was parried into her path.
Upon the resumption, Trim etched her name on the scorer’s sheet in the 47th minute, directing her header into the right corner, after latching onto a right sided corner kick.
Trim made her presence felt once more as the score balloned to 5-0 in the 53rd minute, stabbing home inside the centre of the six-yard area during a goal mouth scramble.
The lopsided result was then completed in the 82nd minute when Johnson uncorked a flat shot from the left of the box which crept past the goalkeeper at the near post and settled into the right corner.
Guyana ended the event on six points from three matches. Their only defeat came at the hands of group winner and undefeated outfit Honduras who mauled Anguilla 12-0.
The 2022 CWU17 is scheduled to take place in January. The top ranked 16 teams participating in the group stage of the championships will be divided into four groups. After round-robin play, the top three teams in each group will advance to the round of 16, joining the four teams from the Qualifiers.
A direct elimination format will decide the eventual winner of the tournament. Similarly, the winner, runner-up, and third place finisher will qualify for the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India scheduled for October 11th-30th 2022.
