Goalkeeping blunder downs TT

Action was in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Final Round qualifiers, with the round-robin competition starting earlier on Sunday night with Suriname whipping Haiti 2-1 at the Arima venue.

Last night, Trinidad and Tobago were hoping for a victory over Haiti to stay in the hunt for qualification for the next phase of the series.

Alsa Smit netted a pair of goals for Suriname in 49th and 68th minutes, while Nadia Valentin pulled one back for Haiti in the 75th.

National keeper Trisha Lawrence came out off her goalline and nonchalantly cleared a ball straight to Jamaican striker Shanique Mitchell in the 65th minute, and she calmly slotted her right-footer into the open net.

Trinidad and Tobago had their fair share of opportunities on the night, with captain Aveann Douglas sending her 20-metre lob overbar in the 42nd while striker Maylee Attin-Johnson benefited from a loose ball in the back but shot straight at Jamaican goalie Paula Jackson in the 81st. Kimmia Parker could have put Jamaica ahead in the 45th, but the midfielder drilled her right-footed effort wide, while striker Venicia Reid capitalised on two mistakes from experienced TT defender Katrina Meyer, in the 61st and 69th minutes, but shot wide on both occasions.

National coach Jamaal Shabazz admitted that the team "made a serious error in the back. It was a tight game but you can see Jamaica (have) much more experienced players and a much more experienced team," he continued. "We have to bounce back."

Stressing that the soggy ground conditions were not a factor in the team’s display, Shabazz noted, "our attitude towards keeping the ball has got to improve and our reaction time was much too slow.

"The experience that the Jamaicans showed, they reacted faster but we’ve definitely got to improve in those areas," he added. Douglas also stated that the team’s performance was not of the highest standards but, despite Lawrence’s error, "we just have to look (ahead)."

Teams: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Trisha Lawrence; Katrina Meyer, Anastasia Prescott, Kia Rigsby (Jemilia Mathlin 58th), Ayanna Russell, Patrice Superville (Kermica Alexander 69th); Dernelle Mascall, Aveann Douglas (capt), Janine Francois (Karyn Forbes 53rd); Maylee Attin-Johnson, Kennya Cordner.

JAMAICA: Paula Jackson; Julie Fearon, Natanya Manyan, Stacy-Ann Johnson (capt), Yolanda Hamilton; Rochelle Bryan (Shereen Clarke 60th), Peta-Gaye Soman (Kenesha Reid 87th), Omolyn Davis (Shakira Duncan 73rd), Kimmia Parker; Venicia Reid, Shanique Mitchell.