Kennya Cordner (pictured) scored three goals in Trinidad & Tobago's 5-0 win over visiting Venezuela in a women's friendly on July 6, 2014. (Photo: Mexsport)
COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago – Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela split a pair of women’s international friendlies played at Ato Boldon Stadium, as the South Americans closed with a 2-0 win Tuesday after the host posted a 5-0 victory two days earlier.
On Sunday, with newly appointed head coach Randy Waldrum watching from the stands, the Soca Princesses were impressive against a youthful Venezuelan squad that included six members of the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup fourth-place finisher.
United States-based forward Kennya Cordner (11’, 56’, 90’) scored three goals in a winning effort, while Jo Marie Lewis (52’) and Tasha St. Louis (65’ pen) struck for one each.
Waldrum, who is also the head coach of the Houston Dash in the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League, was pleased with the performance.
“First impressions were very positive,” he told TTFA Media. “There is a lot of talent in the right places. I thought centrally in midfield you’ve got some talent. There is a lot of pace up front and the back was solid also.”
The 52-year-old, though, did make note of items that will require attention.
“I think one priority is going to be on the fitness level,” commented the former Trinidad & Tobago under-17 women’s manager, before heading back to the U.S. the next morning. “That’s one area tonight that looked like we’re not where we need to be.
“There will be a few little tweaks. The foundation has been set and I think the staff before looks like they did a good job and now it’s more about fine tuning some of those different elements of the game.”
In Tuesday’s defeat, Venezuela took a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute through 17-year-old striker Gabriela Garcia, joint-top scorer at the U-17 World Cup with six goals. Carla Carvalho netted the second in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
“I think there are still things we need to work on, most importantly, our match fitness,” 28-year-old team captain Maylee Attin-Johnson told TTFA Media after the setback. “Even though we do a lot of fitness work, it showed out there that we haven’t played a friendly in a very long time.
Trinidad is preparing for the final round of the 2014 CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup, which it will host August 19-26. From that competition, four teams will progress to the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in the United States, where the Confederation’s qualifiers for 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be decided.
