Trinidad AND Tobago celebrated wildly after beating Cuba 3-1 in a top-of-the-table clash in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women's Under-20 tournament at Waterhouse Stadium on Tuesday night.
The T&T team did not conceal their obvious delight in winning the game and topping Group A with maximum nine points from three games. Cuba finished second on six points.
Trinidad and Tobago entered the game knowing that only a win could see them winning the group and avoiding a possible semi-final clash against Caribbean powerhouse Jamaica.
It was a carnival atmosphere as they danced to the soca beat that emitted from the sound system. The players doused each other with liquid as they achieved their objective on the day.
Patrice Campbell of T&T beat Cuban custodian Monica Padilla with a well-placed shot in the 40th minute for a deserved lead. But Cuba fought back and got the equaliser when Yoanina Conzales booted past Shamelia Christian in goal in the 45th minute.
End-to-end action continued in the second half on a soggy pitch due to rain, and T&T regained the lead when Anique Walker hit the back of the net in the 67th minute. Five minutes later, the Young Soca Warriors sealed the deal when Jonella Warrick converted.
"It was a very important win for us. We wanted to top the group to possibly avoid a semi-final meeting against Jamaica," T&T coach Izler Browne told The Gleaner.
"We want to play the runner-up from the next group," Browne added. "We could have done better in the first half, as we got a number of scoring chances. But the girls stuck to the plan and we won the game. We are very happy about that."
"Now we have to prepare for the semi-final match," the coach said.
The semi-final games are scheduled for tomorrow at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Trench Town, St Andrew. The final is to be played two days later at the same venue.
The two finalists will advance to the CONCACAF championship, the next stage in the World Cup qualifiers. The qualifiers will join hosts Cayman Islands as the Caribbean representatives in the CONCACAF tournament next January.