BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Federation’s women’s team competing in the final round of the CONCACAF Football Qualifiers were comprehensively thrashed in the opening round of matches played at the HEB Park, Edinburg, Texas, USA on Wednesday (Jan. 29).
The team was trounced 11-nil by Canada in Group B action, when Adriana Leon netted four to go along with strikes from Ashley Lawrence, Christine Sinclair, Jayde Riviera, Jessie Fleming and Jordyn Huitema.
The Canadians opened their scoring very early in the match when Sinclair found the back of the net in the 7th minute.
The score was then doubled in the 13th minute when Leon scored, before adding strikes in the 25th, 43rd and 79th minutes.
Sinclair scored her second goal in the 23rd minute, while Lawrence had hers in the 18th and 56th, Riviere in the 40th), Huitema in the 73rd and Fleming netted in the 53rd.
The heavy defeat saw St. Kitts and Nevis now being rooted to the bottom of the group, before regrouping to take on Mexico in a crucial game.
Mexico currently sit second in the group after seeing off Jamaica 1-nil at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sports Shawn Richards and Prime Minister Timothy Harris commended the team on their performance.
In a joint statement, they said: “We are extremely proud of these incredibly skilled and talented young women whose remarkable willpower, fortitude and football prowess have not only served to boost their athletic performance and standing, but also the visibility and prestige of St. Kitts and Nevis on the world stage”.
The duo said that “the impressive and historic ascent is an incredible testament to the country’s stellar coaching education programme, as well as the teamwork, commitment, engagement and resilience that the gifted young people of St. Kitts and Nevis consistently display on playfields and in schools, churches, communities and the workplace throughout the Federation as they endeavour to build a better and brighter future for our country”.
