U-17 girls hammer St Kitts in CFU qualifier.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).
Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 17 Women’s team secured a handsome 7-0 victory over St Kitts/Nevis in their Caribbean Football Union U-17 World Cup qualifying match on Wednesday at the Paul E Joseph Stadium in Frederickstead, St Croix.
T&T entered the game with fourteen players due to the fact that the remaining members were still stranded, unable to get flights to the BVI but head coach Marlon Charles was able to have his players remain focus and the subsequently dominated proceedings on the same evening T&T’s Under 15 boys team should have been in action against St Kitts at the CONCACAF Championship in the Cayman Islands.
T&T got an opening goal from Chevonne John in the 19th minute and Jahra Thomas doubled their lead in the 22nd . Thomas got a second goal in the 59th while further
items came from Zoe Swift 47th, an own goal 71st, Summer Arjoon 74th and Eden Charles 76th.
“It was an encouraging first game performance for us. We were in a difficult situation due to absence of some of our players but the girls remained focused and they were able to get the job done,” Charles said.
“It was important for us to get three points in this opening match and credit to the team for completing the job. Now we will look to continue in similar fashion on Friday.”
T&T faces Antigua/Barbuda on Friday at 4pm.
The two top placed teams from each of the three CFU qualifying groups will advance to the CFU Finals, from which three teams will qualify for the CONCACAF Women's Under-17 Finals. The CFU finals are scheduled for September 11-18 at a venue to be determined. The 2014 FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup will take place in Costa Rica in March, next year.
Team administrator Jinelle James provided a brief summary on the goals.
The first goal would come from Chevonne John in the 19th minute after Eden Charles played a perfect through ball for an on running John who placed a perfect shot in the far post. The second goal would come 3 minutes later after Zoe Swift shot a bullet that the keeper could not hold and parried right into the path of Jahra Thomas who put T&T up 2 goals.
As the half continued, the heat and weariness from a long travel for some of the local girls started to show and St. Kitts were able to make some penetrative plays but just could not capitalize on the opportunity.
The second half would see team captain, Zoe Swift, taking matters into her own hand as she dribbled through a couple defenders in the 47' and made it 3-0. Again, T&T would continue to dominate with good combination plays and patience as they opened up their opponents.
Jahra Thomas would extend the lead to 4-0 in the 59' as she dribbled past her marker and had powerful shot that went through the hands of the St. Kitts Custodian.
Chevonne John would be credited with her second goal in the 71' when she fired a shot that came off the post, hit the keeper and ended up in the back of the net. Shanelle Arjoon and Eden Charles would seal victory in the 74' and 76' respectively.
