U-17 Women downed by Nicaragua
T&T U-17s beaten 4-0 by Nicaragua
Trinidad and Tobago’s U-17 Women’s Team suffered their second straight loss, 4-0 to Nicaragua
in Group C action at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Monday. This followed a 5-1 defeat to Panama in the opening match on Saturday in the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship
Nicaragua were out of the blocks quickly opening the scoring in the third minute. Adriana Munguia caught T&T goalkeeper Shaunda Sheppard off her line and buried the opportunity from 30 yards.Nicaragua created more chances throughout the contest and had the lion’s share of possession.
Nicaragua, just as Panama did against TT, attempted a lot of shots from outside the 18-yard box.
Sheppard made a couple of saves to deny Nicaragua’s attempts from distance and also made a point-blank save in the 20th minute to keep the score 1-0.
In the 24th minute, Daniela Manzanares converted a penalty to make it 2-0 for Nicaragua. Jhelysse Anthony handled the ball following an attempted cross by a Nicaragua player and the penalty was awarded.
T&T attempted a few counterattacks, but their final pass let them down repeatedly.
Nicaragua continued to look more menacing in attack and in first-half stoppage time made it 3-0.
Jenifer Sarantes lobbed the ball over Sheppard from a fairly tight angle as Nicaragua were cruising at the break.
In the second half, Nicaragua did not create as many chances but still had the better passage of play.
T&T had a few bright sparks during the match. In the 58th minute, substitute Jeniceia Benjamin got a shot from six yards out but it was deflected for a corner kick.
T&T gave away possession as they struggled to string three or four passes together in the match.
Nicaragua made it 4-0 when Stella Grace Villalta’s strike from 25 yards out found the back of the net in the 67th minute.The Central Americans continued to shoot from outside the box in search of a fifth goal.
In the 82nd minute, T&T’s Nikita Jackson ran onto a pass but volleyed her shot wide of the goal.
Nicaragua ended the match with 37 shots compared to eight by T&T.
Trinidad and Tobago (4-4-2): 18.Shaunda Sheppard (GK); 13.Tayeann Wylie, 6.Shadea Andrews, 8.Marley Walker (captain), 19.Emily Nanton; 2.Faith Alexander (10.Jeniecia Benjamin 46), 15.Aliyah Hudlin (12.Arie Bhagan 46), 5.Cicely-Anne Spencer-Wickham, 7.Nikita Jackson; 11.Jhelysse Anthony (14.Trischell Charles 46), 20.Jada Graham.
Unused substitues: 16.Alexandra Ennals (GK), 3.Makeba Morang, 4.Angel Berot, 9.Breana Smith, 17.Hannah Vieira.
Head Coach: Jason Spence
Nicaragua (4-3-3): 1.Yahoska Garcia (GK); 7.Sara Cruz (19.Ana Martinez 78), 3.Conthia Calero, 4.Ariana Munguia, 5.Aura Zeledon (2.Stella Villalta 35); 6.Vanessa Altamirano (captain), 14.Anyi Loza (15.Flavia Jimenez 51), 10.Jenifer Sarantes; 11.Hilary Munguia (8.Perla Garache 51), 13.Daniela Manzanares (16.Lesli Marquez 78), 9.Adriana Munguia.
Unused substitutes: 12.Francela Maltez (GK), 2.Stella Villalta, 17.Veronica Navarrete, 18. Jennifer Toval.
Head Coach: Jeniffer Fernandez
Referee: Merlin Vanessa Soto (Honduras)
