Shenieka Paul, Karyn Forbes and Jonelle Cato found the back of the net for Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday evening as they completed a 100% record in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Challenge Series Group E, courtesy of a 3-1 win over Guyana at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
With the result, T&T ended with nine points, followed by Suriname (who edged Grenada 6-5 in the earlier game of the double-header) on four points. Guyana’s ‘Lady Jags’ were third with two points, while Grenada finished last with a solitary point.
T&T coach Jamaal Shabazz kept the core of the squad who cruised past Grenada 8-1, but Paul and in-form striker Aaliyah Prince, members of the national Women’s Under-20 squad, were included in the starting line-up, as well as midfielder Naomie Guerra.
Paul opened the scoring for T&T in the 12th minute, her first goal at this level for the twin-island republic.
Guyana, fielding a number of North American-born players, were awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute by referee Annia Navarette of Cuba. Cato, dilly-dallying on the right, was dispossessed by Calaigh Copland whose ball into the penalty box struck the left arm of Guerra.
And defender Mariam El Masri’s powerful right-footed spotkick flew past the right of outstretched goalkeeper Nicolette Craig.
Cato played her part in T&T’s second goal 11 minutes later (75th), as her cross from the right went through the hands of a leaping Aneesa O’Brien and was bundled home by an alert Forbes.
The Canadian-born El Masri, who is based in Singapore, was given marching orders in the 84th, for a pair of yellow cards, firstly for a foul on substitute midfielder Janine Francois and then for abusive language towards the referee.
And Cato completed the win in the 88th with a speculative shot from the right, which went through the hands, once again, of a bemused O’Brien. (Newsday)
