December 2 is D-Day
Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Women’s Team pulled off a tremendous 0-0 result with Ecuador in their first leg FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Atahualpa Stadium in Quito on Saturday.
The result leaves T&T in an excellent position to clinch a World Cup spot heading into the return leg at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on December 2nd.
Saturday’s match was a closely contested one as T&T battled on to ensure their opponents did not pull away from them at any point. Both teams took a while to settle but T&T appeared to have buckled down before the hosts. In all, it was a remarkable display by skipper Maylee Attin-Johnson and her teammates before a strong Ecuadorian home crowd Of about 22,000 at the venue which is located at 2,782 meters above sea level.
T&T head coach Randy Waldrum, in an immediate reaction to the result, said he could not have asked for more from his players.
“They were all just warriors out there today. We came into this game wanting a positive result, to stay in the game as long as we could and we did everything for that to happen today. I’m extremely pleased with the way we kept it together out there,” Waldrum told TTFA Media.
“There were times in the game where they (Ecuador) tried to break us down but we kept it strong and considering the conditions of this match, I have to really applaud the players for this great effort today.”
The team will return to Port of Spain at 11pm on Monday and Waldrum will continue preparations towards December 2.
“We’ve got to now ensure that the focus remains and I’m sure it will because these girls are keeping their eyes firmly on the prize which is qualification for Canada. But we’ll also ensure that we do things right because playing at home now is different to what we ‘ve had in the recent part. The Caribbean Championship was great but we’re now looking at a World Cup Final qualifying game here where everything is on the line. I hope the supporters come out and back this team right down to the end. It’s a great opportunity now for the folks back in Trinidad to really show their love and support for this team,” Waldrum added.
T&T 1.Kimika Forbes (GK); 8.Patrice Superville, 4.Rhea Belgrave, 5.Arin King, 20.Lauryn Hutchinson (2.Ayanna Russell 65); 9.Maylee Attin-Johnson (captain); 12.Ahkeela Mollon, 14.Karyn Forbes, 11.Janine Francois (7.Dernelle Mascall 75), 19.Kennya Cordner; 3.Mariah Shade (10.Tasha St Louis 66).
Unused substitutes: 17.Sandra Baron (GK), 6.Khadidra Debessette, 13.Anique Walker, 16.Jasmine Sampson, 18.Khadisha Debessette.
Coach: Randy Waldrum
Ecuador (4-2-3-1): 1.Shirley Berruz (GK); 19.Kerly Real, 3.Lorena Aguilar, 16.Ligia Moreira, 6.Angie Ponce; 18.Adriana Barre (14.Monica Quinteros 46), 13.Madeline Riera (8.Erika Vasquez 56); 20.Andrea Pesantes, 10.Ambar Torres (11.Elizabeth Caicedo 81), 7.Ingrid Rodriguez; 9.Gianina Lattanzio.
Unused substitutes: 4.Merly Zambrano, 5.Mayre Olivera, 12.Irene Tobar, 17.Tamara Angulo.
Coach: Vanessa Arauz
Referee: - Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany).
