CHESTER, Pennsylvania, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago missed out on their first chance at automatic qualification for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup when they went down to Costa Rica on penalties in their semi-final of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship here Friday night.
With the game locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes at PPL Park, T&T failed to net a single spot kick while the Central Americans buried three, to crush the hopes of the only English-speaking Caribbean side remaining in the competition.
However, the Trinidadians will have another chance at World Cup qualification when they face Mexico in the third place playoff on Sunday.
Mexico lost 3-1 to United States in the second semi-final at the same venue.
T&T will be without defender Reha Belgrave for the game after she was sent off in the 120th minute for a second yellow card.
Costa Rica took the lead in the contest in the 18th minute when Carolina Venegas scored from close range after being set up by Wendy Acosta on the left side.
The lead held at half-time but T&T found themselves back on level terms thanks to substitute Lauryn Hutchinson. Coming off the bench for the start of the second stanza, she got on the end of Arin King’s free kick to nod past goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz.
Both teams then failed to break the deadlock, bringing the contest down to dreaded penalty kicks where Daiz emerged the hero after saving from Maylee Attin Johnson, Hutchinson and Mariah Shade.
Katherine Alvarado, Carol Sanchez and Acosta were on target for Costa Rica.
The PPL Park will host Sunday’s final between United States and Costa Rica.
