Soca versus Reggae: T&T women thrash Martinique to meet Jamaica in Caribbean Cup final
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
“It means a lot to us (to be in the final),” said Trinidad and Tobago attacker Tasha St Louis. “A lot of us have been (involved in the women’s game) for a long time and the chance to win the trophy at home (before) going into the CONCACAF tournament is a great thing.
“We want to win it really badly.”
Trinidad and Tobago has not won a senior Caribbean Cup title since 2001. To put that into perspective, Basdeo Panday was Prime Minister, the United States’ twin towers were unscathed in lower Manhattan and Movie Towne was not yet opened.
On Tuesday night, 13 years later, the “Soca Princesses” aim to put Trinidad and Tobago at the pinnacle of the regional game once more—albeit in the inaugural female competition—after they closed their Group B schedule with a crushing 7-0 win over Martinique.
Trinidad and Tobago will meet fierce regional rival, Jamaica, from 7.15 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain after the third place play off between Martinique and Haiti, which kicks off at 5 pm. Admission is $50 for everyone over 12 and free for children.
In three Group A matches, the “Reggae Girls” scored 15 goals and conceded two while, in Group B, the Princesses banged in 19 goals without reply. This is the final for the purists and partisans alike.
In October, three CONCACAF teams will advance to the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada while a fourth will go to a play off. The United States and Mexico are heavily favoured to qualify automatically but Costa Rica, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will all fancy their chances of joining them while Haiti and Guatemala are the outside shots.
On Tuesday, the Princesses can strike a double psychological blow.
First, a warning shot to their World Cup rivals that they mean business. And, just as importantly, a message to local football fans and corporate Trinidad and Tobago about their potential to achieve great things.
It was impossible not to be appreciative of the team’s talent tonight.
For starters, patrons would want to take their seats early when these ladies are playing.
As in their opening 10-0 rout of St Kitts, the Princesses came flying out of the blocks against Martinique. Only 49 seconds elapsed when enigmatic forward Kennya “Ya Ya” Cordner put the hosts ahead after a fluent attacking play that featured two accurate passes from defender Rhea Belgrave and deep-lying midfield playmaker Karyn Forbes.
Read more:
http://wired868.com/2014/08/25/soca-vs-reggae-tt-women-whip-martinique-to-meet-jamaica-in-final/