Trinidad and Tobago maintained top spot in the Group B standings based on goal difference, after their 2-0 win over Belize in their second match of the CONCACAF W U-17 Qualifier series at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva Wednesday night.
The Soca Princesses now only have to manage a draw against Honduras Friday night to automatically advance to the next stage of the qualifiers.
That is a concern for Friday from 8 p.m.
But Wednesday, the team coached by Ayanna Russell put themselves in pole position when they dominated the possession and the shots, as Belize were on the back foot for the majority of the game.
One strike either side of half-time ensured the local squad would edge Honduras (seven goals to six) for the top spot in the group.
The journey to their victory started early in the first half, the attacking pressure of the Kanika Rodriguez-captained squad eventually cracking the Belize defence in the 30th minute.
Tykaiya Dennis’s left-sided corner ricocheted about the six-yard box before Gittens squared for Cherina Steele to tap home just on the goal-line.
T&T almost doubled their tally when first-game marksman and hero Orielle Martin – scorer of a beaver-trick against the USVI- let fly from outside the 18-metre box on the left side. The very diminutive Belize goalkeeper Angelica Lopez was reduced to a spectator as her left-footer rebounded to safety off the crossbar in the 44th minute.
Then came the insurance goal in the 49th.
After Dennis struck the base of Lopez’s right upright in the first minute after the break, Rori Gittens benefitted from Martin’s right side service, directing a first-time volley goalward. Lopez got a finger on it but only succeeded in parrying it onto the inside of the upright for T&T’s second goal.
The local squad generated two good opportunities shortly thereafter. The speedy winger Rasheda Archer danced past Belize defenders Rhianna Valentine and Marcelie Mar on the right flank, got into the penalty box but fired her shot directly to Lopez in the 59th Then Martin again found the crossbar in her way as she deftly turned and shot from the Belize D with a booming right-footer, Lopez beaten for pace and height.
CONCACAF W U-17 W results:
Trinidad and Tobago 2 (Cherina Steele 30th, Rori Gittens 49th) Belize 0
Honduras 4 US Virgin Islands 0