TT Under-20 women whip St Lucians

The Trinidad and Tobago lasses mauled the St Lucians 11-1 on Monday, also at Macoya, in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Preliminary Round Group “B” play-offs.

Yesterday, striker Mariah Shade netted twice while Natasha St Louis, Kayla Taylor and substitute Falina Jack chipped in with one apiece.

In first-half stoppage time, Trinidad and Tobago defender Camille Borneo made a pass, from the half-line, to right-winger Taylor who, after moving in-field, sent the ball to an unmarked Shade.

St Lucian defender Allisha Emmanuel’s attempted clearance hit Shade’s right arm, while she was defending herself, and the national captain took the loose ball and calmly tucked her right-footer to the left of goalkeeper Tyla Nelson. Nine minutes into the second half, Shade got a return pass from her strike partner St Louis, skipped past a defender before placing a low shot to the right of a flat-footed Nelson.

St Louis got on the score-sheet in the 57th minute, capitalising on the St Lucians’ failure to clear her initial shot, which was parried by Nelson, and the forward directed her right-footer to Nelson’s right.

Karyn Forbes, on the left-flank, sent a cross-field cross to the path of Taylor who calmly lobbed the advancing goalie, and the pint-sized winger celebrated her 65th minute item with an acrobatic flip.

And Jack met an 83rd minute corner, from the left, by Forbes and thundered her header to the top right-hand corner of the net.

From the teams who started on Monday, Trinidad and Tobago included Borneo instead of injured central defender Tiana Bateau while St Lucia, who had, among their supporters, W Connection’s coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier (an ex-St Lucian defender), replaced midfielder Hydie Sandiford with Zamarla Joseph and Nelson was in goal for Cindy St Ange.

Trinidad and Tobago will now focus their attention on the CFU Final Round Qualifiers, which will be held here from November 18-22, alongside Group “A” winners Jamaica, Group “C” table-toppers Cuba and the victorious team in Group “D” St Kitts/Nevis.

The top three teams, from the CFU Finals, will progress to the CONCACAF Finals in Guatemala from January 16-28.

After the CONCACAF Finals, the top three teams will be booking their spots to the 2010 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Kimika Forbes; Camille Borneo, Khadisha Debesette, Rehana Omardeen, Cassey McKenzie (Falina Jack 70th); Karyn Forbes, Khadidra Debesette (Victoria Swift 55th), Kayla Taylor, Afiyah Matthias (Jennel Kissoon 63rd); Mariah Shade (capt), Natasha St Louis.

ST LUCIA: Tyla Nelson; Melaine Ishmel, Allisha Emmanuel, Myla McLean, Megesh Savery; Ellaisa Marquis (capt), Merlina Auguste, Zanique Celestin, Zamarla Joseph (Shenel Blanchard 72nd); Joanne Alphonse, Kwanzaa Robest.