- Norman GrindleyJamaica's Iesha Mowatt (right) controls the ball ahead of T&T's Akheela Mollon in an exciting encounter between the teams at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday. The game ended 0-0.
Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter
JAMAICA FAILED to capitalise on an early Trinidad and Tobago setback and ended up playing to a 0-0 stalemate in the feature match of a Caribbean Zone women's Under-19 World Cup qualifying doubleheader at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.
The hosts finished at pole position on a better goal average, scoring 32 to T&T's 30, but had already advanced to the next round of qualifying next year in Trinidad. Grenada defeated Bahamas 3-1 in the first game yesterday to finish third.
In what was undoubtedly the best game of the tournament - albeit a virtual friendly, the Jamaicans and Trinidadians treated the large crowd to a feast of high standard of play.
But that was not all they got.
Trinidadian ace striker Maylee Attin-Johnson took her competitiveness to another level and was sent off for violent conduct in the 11th minute.
Attin-Johnson, who scored six goals in the tournament, the second highest amount for her team, elbowed Jamaican Iesha Mowatt. She later made officials regret their decision to not have her banished from the ground when she attacked Guyanese referee Diana James at the halftime interval.
The striker's expulsion caused a dent in T&T's plans, but not too seriously as they matched skills with their equally competent opponents.
It was T&T who took the first shot at goal but the Jamaicans, through excellent defensive work, kept hungry T&T at bay through the efforts of Hishamar Falconer, Mitchell DePass and 'keeper Tameka Drummond.
Up front, Shareka Evans and Mowatt kept the Jamaicans competitive against the well-trained Trinidadians.
Alania Burgin shone for T&T, displaying brilliant ball artistry. Her teammate Akheela Mollon was on the ball as well, though none of her shots made it to the back of the net.
Jamaica's coach 'Jackie' Walters was proud of his charges but said his main focus had been on moving to the next stage.
"We did well today. It was really a good match but what happens after this is critical to our getting to the finals in May. The girls showed a lot of potential but we need support in order to make it," Bell said.
"This tournament was not really about winning or losing but meant continued exposure for the team. We need all the competition and support we can get at this time," he said.
Trinidad on the other hand, acted like winners at the end of the exciting encounter.
"We did very well despite losing one of our players. Maybe we would have done well with her, maybe not, we'll never really know. But I'm happy that we held up well against Jamaica," assistant coach Julio Leal said.
"Jamaica are a good team to play. Winning was not the main focus today. At this level we play for the sake of performance so we can watch the development of the young players," he said.
