Trini girls held 0-0 in CONCACAF seriesMonday, July 21 2008
TRINIDAD and Tobago Under-17 women footballers were held to a 0-0 draw by Costa Rica in their Group “A” game in the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Champ-ionships at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna, yesterday.
They must now salvage a draw with the United States in their final game tomorrow, if they are to ensure a place in the semi-finals.
Costa Rica, however, must beat El Salvador to advance ahead of the TT girls.
Earlier yesterday, Rachel Nuzzolese netted a hat-trick to guide the United States to a 9-0 demolition of El Salvador, to book their place in the semi-final round starting on Thursday, making their final game against TT of academic interest only.
Defender Amber Brooks scored twice, while Olivia Klei, Morgan Brian, Tani Costa and Kathryn Bennett added one apiece for the Americans.
Nuzzolese started the onslaught in the fourth minute, drilling her left-footer beyond the reach of goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez.
Costa had a hand in the second item, heading a right-sided cross from Alexis Harris over the leaping Rodriguez with Klei, lurking on the left, tapping home in the ninth.
Three minutes later, Brian got her name on the scoresheet when she poked home a rebound after Rodriguez denied a shot from Costa.
In the 15th, Costa eventually found the back of the net, heading home Klei’s ball from the left, while Brooks buried a pair of headers, in the 26th and 38th minutes, from outswinging left-footed corners by Klei.
Bennett placed her 50th minute penalty to the right of the flat-footed Rodriguez, while Nuzzolese got her team’s eighth goal in the 64th.
Nuzzolese completed her treble in the 78th, poking her shot beyond Rodriguez after she was set up by Bennett.
The American girls look a safe bet to advance as one of three teams for the inaugural FIFA Women Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand later this year.
In sister isle Tobago at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Canada won a thriller, edging Jamaica 4-3 with an 84th minute strike by Amy Harrison.
Shelina Zadorsky gave the Maple Leaf girls an 18th minute lead, but Jordian Morris scored from the penalty spot to knot up the scores.
Tiffany Cameron scored the first of her double in the 27th to restore the Canadians lead only for Monique Pryce to get a second leveller for the Reggae Girlz.
Cameron got her second in the 39th to make it 3-2 Canada but once again the Jamaicans drew level when Sashana Campbell scored in the 79th.
Then Harrison became her country’s heroine with that winning goal.
Earlier, Mexico also won for the second time shutting out Puerto Rico 4-0 on double strikes by Alina Garcia Mendez in the 5th and 72nd and Cherlyn Corral in the 80th and 86th, a penalty. Both Canada and Mexico advance to the final four to be played off at the Marvin Lee venue.
Current standings:
Group “A”
P W D L F A Pts
USA 2 2 0 0 15 0 6
TT 2 1 1 0 5 1 4
Costa Rica 2 0 1 1 0 6 1
El Salvador 2 0 0 2 1 14 0
