Total support for Women Warriors in final bid for World Cup gloryTrinidad Guardian ReportsThis country’s senior women’s footballers will have the backing of over 22,500 spectators at a sold-out Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain from 6 pm this evening when they meet Ecuador, as both teams attempt to qualify for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The vast majority of tickets have already been sold out, yet fans are expected to flock to the venue from early hours today in a last-ditch attempt to salvage an experience similar to that of the men’s team when it met Bahrain in 2005 and the USA in 1989.
The women’s team has very similar ambitions, as they are aiming to qualify for their first ever Fifa Women’s World Cup.
T&T has never reached this close, and according to head coach Randy Waldrum, there has never been a better opportunity to qualify.
A win today will see T&T join World Cup host Canada, along with the USA, Costa Rica and Mexico for a record number of representatives from Concacaf. T&T too, will become the smallest country by population, behind Equatorial Guinea, to qualify for World Cup with a win.
Today will see a battle of tactics between Waldrum and his counterpart Vanessa Arauz and on the field between Warriors captain Maylee Attin Johnson and her opposite number Ligia Moreira.
The variables that define the fixture are straightforward. T&T’s Women Soca Warriors must avoid a loss. A goalless draw after full time and extra time will see the match decided on a penalty shoot-out, while a win or a draw by any result other than a goalless one, will see Ecuador through.
These scenarios were constructed as a result of the goalless draw in the first leg in Quito, Ecuador, early last month.
The “away goal rule” gives goals from away teams more strength than those scored by the home team, but only in the case where both teams are tied after both legs. Given that the first match ended without any goals, Ecuador will advance to the World Cup if the match ends 1-1 or 2-2 and so forth.
Both teams returned to the venue yesterday for successive one-hour training sessions.
Kennya Cordner is expected to start up front and will likely have the support of Mariah Shade and winger Akheela Mollon, with Johnson holding.
Possible line-ups:T&T: Kimika Forbes; Brianna Ryce, Rhea Belgrave, Arin King, Lauren Hutchinson, Kadhidra Debessette, Maylee Attin Johnson, Karyn Forbes, Ahkeela Mollon, Mariah Shade, Kennya Cordner.
Ecuador: Shirley Berruz, Ingrid Rodriguez, Lorena Aguilar, Ligia Moreira, Angie Ponce, Mayra Olvera, Andrea Pesantes, Erika Vasquez, Kerly Real, Ambar Torres, Monica Quinteros.
Members of the T&T Women Warriors go through their final paces at the
Hasely Crawford Stadium, yesterday. The T&T women meet Ecuador in
a World Cup qualifier with the winner qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
Photo Jeff MayersPublished: Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Link :
http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2014-12-01/total-support-women-warriors-final-bid-world-cup-glory