Top-ranked Caribbean and Central America teams, T&T and Costa Rica, will lock horns tonight in search of a place in the final of the Concacaf Women’s Championship, and more importantly, a spot at next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The teams will open a semifinal double-header at PPL Park, Chester, Pennsylvania, from 5.30 pm, before Group A winner, USA and Group B runner-up, Mexico, clash from 8.30 pm.
Tonight’s semifinal opens three opportunities for the local women, fondly dubbed the Soca Princesses, to secure their first ever spot at a Women’s World Cup. A win will guarantee that while a loss will mean T&T will try again in Sunday’s third place playoff.
The winner of the third place match will also qualify for the World Cup, while the loser will earn a “half spot” in a two-match intercontinental playoff against Comnebol’s Ecuador for the final qualifying spot between the two confederations.
But coach Randy Waldrum and his charges would be keen to see his team secure that much desired World Cup berth in one go.
“I think the spirit is really high. The girls are focused and it’s been that way for all three games so far. I think they are confident but respectful of Costa Rica for sure,” he said ahead of tonight’s fixture.
“I’m extremely pleased with the team’s performances. I think they were outstanding against the USA with playing the way I wanted them to. And then against Haiti, they showed great resilience and fortitude to get the points with a player down and then we came out and did a great job against Guatemala. We’re not yet close to where I’ll like the team to be but we have gotten better with every game,” Waldrum added.
Tonight, T&T, which advanced from a runner-up finish in Group B with one loss (1-0 to the USA) and two wins (1-0 to Haiti and 2-1 to Guatemala), will match up against a Costa Rica team which has scored three times more goals—nine, and has conceded two after three straight wins, one of which was against Mexico.
Like T&T, Costa Rica was a cut above the rest in its qualifying tournament. The team won each of its matches prior to the Concacaf event, including a 3-0 victory over host team Guatemala in playoff/final.
And, while Costa Rica has proven to be a tactically sound team, it has its own reservations regarding T&T. The team’s technical assistant, an observer in T&T’s prior matches, admitted T&T’s strength and speed and quality in the likes of forward Kennya Cordner, newly converted winger, Ahkeela Mollon, and captain Maylee Attin Johnson could be a problem.
“Trinidad is similar to Jamaica: very fast and strong. It has a system similar to that seen in the tournament with 4-3-3. We must further strengthen the analysis and enhance our strengths,” the technical assistant was quoted as saying in La Nacion, a news source of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s line-up boasts a number of potent attackers in the likes of Caronline Venehas (9) and Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno (11).
Venegas scored the lone goal in Costa Rica’s win over Mexico and another pair against Martinique in the team’s 6-1 win, while Cedeno scored the winning goal against Jamaica and another two goals against Martinique only three minutes after coming on as a late substitute. Another player to watch is two-time UEFA Champions League winner, Shirley Cruz Traña, a marshall in Costa Rica’s midfield.
On the other side, T&T received a boost in the return of starting goalkeeper Kimika Forbes, who served a one-match ban after her expulsion against Haiti.
A handful of players who suffered slight injuries before and during the tournament including Tasha St Louis, Janine Francois, Karyn Forbes and Ayanna Russell are said to be fit to play, while Cordner, the team’s top scorer, Mollon, assist leader, and other starters have gotten ample time to recuperate after playing their three group matches in five days.
T&T Squad
Kimika Forbes, Tinesha Palmer (GK); Ayanna Russell, Rhea Belgrave, Arin King, Liana Hinds, Brianna Ryce, Khadisha Debessette, Lauren Hutchinson, Patrice Superville (Def); Khadidra Debessette, Maylee Attin Johnson, Janine Francois, Karyn Forbes, Anique Walker (Mid); Mariah Shade, Dernelle Mascall, Tasha St Louis, Ahkeela Mollon, Kennya Cordner (Fwd).
Fixtures
Costa Rica v T&T, PPL Park, Chester, Pennsylvania, 5.30 pm
USA v Mexico, PPL Park, 8.30 pm
Women set for strong challenge in semi-final clash with Costa Rica.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).
Spirits are high but the focus is real for T&T Women’s Team
That was the description of the Trinidad and Tobago Senior Women’s Team camp in Philadelphia coming from head coach Randy Waldrum on the eve of this country’s CONCACAF Semi-final round clash with Costa Rica on Friday at the Philadelphia’s PPL Park
Waldrum also expressed thanks to the Government of the Republic and the TTFA for the incentive announced to the squad as they continue to embark on qualification for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
The American-born head coach said there have been improvements to injured players Tasha St Louis, Karyn Forbes, Janine Francois and Ayana Russell.
“I think the spirit is really high. The girls are focused and it’s been that way for all three games so far. I think they are confident but respectful of Costa Rica for sure,” Waldrum told TTFA Media.
He added that the team has improved with every match.
“I’m extremely pleased with the team’s performances. I think they were outstanding against the USA with playing the way I wanted them to. And then against Haiti they showed great resilience and fortitude to get the points with a player down and then we came out and did a great job against Guatemala. We’re not yet close to where I’ll like the team to be but we have gotten better with every game,” Waldrum added.
The former University of Notra Dame University coach pointed out that Petrotrin’s assistance with the training camp in Palo Seco and the TTFA’e efforts to get the team to Dallas for a short training camp ahead of the opening match against USA were vital to the team’s progress.
“I think it was huge, getting the team into Dallas a few days before the first match. And the TTFA, inspite of all the struggles, made the effort to get the team together for the camp. We couldn’t have done this without having the full squad together in such an environment.
We couldn’t have gotten the US-based players to return to Trinidad and so we felt it would be good to get everyone together in Dallas. I have to thank the Association for allowing it and a huge thanks to Petrotrin also for their beach camp and their assistance.”
Waldrum said he saw Anique Walker, Lianna Hinds and Brianna Ryce for the first time during the Dallas camp.
“I would have liked it for a bit longer but I understood we had to work with the resources the TTFA could provide and we’re grateful because it allowed me to see some of these players for the first time and really get them ready for the tournament,” Waldrum said.
In light of the announcement of the incentive by the Government, Waldrum expressed his delight but warned that the players have been told to keep their eye on the main prize.
“We’re all on cloud nine. Some of the girls found out before me and we’re all extremely thankful and appreciative. I’d like to say special thanks to the Government, Petrotrin and the TTFA including President Tim Kee and Mr Phillips for their efforts and for recognizing what these ladies have done. This couldn’t have come at a better time
“But what I shared with the players last night is it we can pat ourselves a bit on the shoulder but we haven’t achieved anything yet. I challenged them not to lose focus because our goal is not done yet,” Waldrum concluded.
The winner of each semifinal match earns a chance to play for the regional crown in the Championship match, scheduled for 6 PM on Sunday, October 26, also at PPL Park. The semifinal losers will play off on Sunday at 3 PM, for the region’s final direct ticket to the Women’s World Cup.
In all, the CONCACAF Women’s Championship will qualify its top three finishers directly to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the fourth-placed team earning the right to face Ecuador – South American qualifying’s fourth place finisher -- in a playoff later this year for an additional World Cup bid. As host of the Women’s World Cup 2015, Canada has already secured its place in next year’s tournament.
Soca Princesses look for World Cup spot
By Ian Prescott (Express).
Glory Road
It’s D-day. The day either Trinidad and Tobago or Costa Rica qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
The teams go for an automatic qualifying spot into next year’ s World Cup in Canada, when they meet from 4.30 p.m., today in the first of two semi-finals at the 2014 CONCACAF Women Championship at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Later at 7.30, the No.1 world-ranked United States take on Mexico in the second semi-final. Both winners earn direct berths into the final. The two losers will meet again on Sunday for a third automatic World Cup spot, while the team eventually finishing fourth can also reach the World Cup via a two-leg playoff against the South American third-placed finishers.
Yesterday, head coach Randy Waldrum was elated with the incentive announced by the Trinidad and Tobago Government for the team. Following discussions with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), Sport Minister Rupert Griffith has pledged each player $50,000 for their efforts in the qualifying series.
“A huge thank you to Dr. (Rupert) Griffith, Mr. (Raymond) Tim Kee, & Mr. (Sheldon) Phillips for what you did for our T&T women national team,“ Waldrum said via twitter.
He also told TTFA Media: “We’re all on cloud nine. Some of the girls found out before me and we’re all extremely thankful and appreciative. I’d like to say special thanks to the Government, Petrotrin and the TTFA including president Tim Kee and Mr (Sheldon) Phillips (general secretary) for their efforts and for recognising what these ladies have done. This couldn’t have come at a better time.”
However, the coach also added: “But what I shared with the players last night is it we can pat ourselves a bit on the shoulder but we haven’t achieved anything yet. I challenged them not to lose focus because our goal is not done yet.” Waldrum also noted that his team’s performances in the tournament had been improving. He said they showed “great resilience and fortitude” against Haiti to “get the points with a player down.”
“We’re not yet close to where I’ll like the team to be but we have gotten better with every game,” he said. And with so much at stake this afternoon, Waldrum will be expecting his players to up the their level yet again.
T&T Squad: - 1. Kamika Forbes (GK), 4-Rhea Belgrave, 5-Arin King, 16-Brianna Ryce; 20-Lauren Hutchinson, 15-Liana Hinds, 7-Dernelle Mascall, 13-Anique Walker, 9-Maylee Attin-Johnson (Capt.), 12-Ahkeela Mollon, 19-Kennya Cordner, 2-Ayanna Russell, 18-Khadisha Debessette, 6-Khadidra Debessete, 11-Janine Francois, 8-Patrice Superville, 14-Karyn Forbes, 10-Tasha St Louis, 3-Mariah Shade, 17-Tenesha Palmer (GK).