Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 women footballers have cemented their place for the final CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in Canada with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Suriname in Paramaribo on Sunday.
Prolific goal-scorer Maylee-Attin Johnson and Aveann Douglas got two goals each in Sunday's match, while midfielder Dernelle Mascall got the other. Coach Jamal Shabazz team won the first leg here 2-1, and Suriname needed to win at least 1-0 to advance. Trinidadian goalkeeper Gail Ann Thomas was forced into two vital saves inside the opening 10 minutes, as the Suriname women went goal hunting.
But Attin-Johnson dampened the Surinamese spirit when she collected a pass from Mascall and dribbled past two defenders before smashing her shot past goalkeeper Lorraine Dompig in the 12th minute. This same striker doubled the lead in the 26th minute with a brilliant solo effort, leaving several Suriname defenders in her wake before drilling her shot past a helpless Dompig. Mascall got into the act in the 34th when her swerving free-kick deceived Dompig to put the match way out of the Surinamese reach. Suriname were awarded a 50th minute penalty when defender Kia Rigsby was pulled up for handle ball. Goalkeeper Lorraine Dompig stepped up to take the kick and watched her powerful shot bounce off the bar. And Suriname fell further behind when skipper Nadia James put striker Douglas through the Suriname defence to score. Douglas scored again five minutes later, this time with a clinical left-footed finish. Trinidad and Tobago scored a sixth time in the 85th minute, but diminutive Tobago striker Kennya Cordner who came on as a substitute for Attin-Johnson had her goal disallowed for off-side. The final CONCACAF Women's Under-19 Qualifying Tournament will be held in Canada between May 28 and June 6.