PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago and host Haiti will contest the final of the 2013 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under-17 Football Tournament today.
Both teams reached the final after securing semi-final victories at the Sylvio Cator Stadium on Friday.
It took extra time for Trinidad & Tobago to get past Puerto Rico 4-1 after a 1-1 tie at the end of 90 minutes.
It was the Trinidadians third win from four games after dropping 1-0 to Bermuda but also convincing triumphs over Grenada (10-0) and the Dominican Republic (5-1).
Coach of the winning side James Morisset was elated with the result but now is focused on Trinidad and Tobago.
“I am happy for the girls and we have reached the CONCACAF qualifiers but there is still one more game to be played against a very good Trinidad team; so I am expecting a good game on Sunday,” Morisset commented.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Haiti defeated Bermuda 4-0 in front of a capacity crowd.
Leading goal scorer of the tournament Batcheba Louis netted two goals in one minute to take her tally to 16 goals in four matches heading into the finals.
Bermuda’s coach Aaron Denkins said after-wards he was proud of his girls’ performance against the Haitian girls and believes that the gap is narrowing in the Caribbean.
“We did well for a group of young ladies and showed that we can compete with the best of them. I credit Haiti for their play, but our girls gave it all they had and that is all I could ask of them,” said Denkins.
Haiti and Puerto Rico finished on nine points each in Group 1 but the Haitians had a better goal difference after a 22-0 whipping of the United States Virgin Islands.
The Trinidadians’ advantage over Bermuda in Group 2 was mainly thanks to their 10-0 win over Grenada. Both Trinidad & Tobago and Bermuda finished on nine points.
Bermuda and Puerto Rico will play for the third place and to join the champion and the runner up of this tournament for the CONCACAF Finals in Montego Bay, Jamaica from October 30 to November 9.
