Action from the the CFU Women's Caribbean Cup first-round game on May 27, 2014, between host Puerto Rico and Martinique (white jersey) at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon. (Photo: José Antúnez/www.golazoboricua.com)
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Antigua & Barbuda completed Group 1 play with a perfect record, while Martinique and Bermuda topped Groups 2 and 3, respectively, in different fashions, as all three on Tuesday sealed spots in the final round of the inaugural Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Caribbean Cup – qualifying in the Caribbean for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Here’s a recap of the Tuesday’s action:
GROUP 1 (at St. John’s, Antigua)
At the Antigua Recreation Grounds, Antigua & Barbuda maintained an unblemished record and topped Group 1, defeating St. Vincent & the Grenadines for its third consecutive 1-0 win.
The lone goal came in the 38th minute, when striker Kanika Buckley beat a pair of defenders on the right wing, before cutting inside to slip a low shot past goalkeeper Hollester Browne from just within the box.
The game was evenly contested and produced numerous scoring opportunities on both ends of the field, but finishing touches were unsettled, while excellent goalkeeping was in abundant supply.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines forward Kendice Franklyn, whose refined skills and outstanding pace earned her plaudits throughout the competition, threatened the Benna Girls’ net numerous times only to be thwarted by the flawless play of goalkeeper Nikisha Samuel.
In the evening’s opener, the U.S. Virgin Islands posted a 1-0 win over Aruba. A seventh minute goal by Jessica Adams, an impressive winger, proved to be the difference in a match that pitted two previously eliminated sides against each other.
GROUP 2 (at Bayamon, Puerto Rico
At the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Martinique won Group 2 on goal difference over Puerto Rico after the sides played to 1-1 draw. The pair finished with four points from their two games, but Martinique progressed by a single goal (+2 to +1).
Jaqueline Guerra gave the host a ninth minute 1-0 lead, but Prisca Carin netted the all-important equalizer nine minutes before the break.
GROUP 3 (at Providenciales, Turk & Caicos Islands)
At the Turks and Caicos Football Academy, with a 3-1 victory over previously perfect St. Kitts & Nevis, Bermuda jumped up a place in the standings to capture Group 3 with seven points.
Akeyla Furbert gave the Bermudians a 14th minute lead and Shuntae Todd doubled the advantage, converting a penalty kick three minutes later for her fourth goal of the competition.
In the 31st minute, Phoenetia Brown netted for the sixth time in three outings to halve the deficit for St. Kitts, but Dominique Richardson’s strike in the 70th minute offered Bermuda the necessary insurance.
Later, a brace from Shenel Gall (45’, 68’) and a goal by teenager Shanelle Frederick (89’) gave the Cayman Islands its first victory of the tournament, 3-0, over the host Turks & Caicos Islands.
2014 CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL UNION WOMEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING RESULTS, TABLES & FIXTURES
FIRST ROUND
GROUP 1 (at St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda – Antigua Recreation Grounds)
Results
Friday – May 23, 2014
Aruba 0, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 2
Antigua & Barbuda 1, U.S. Virgin Islands 0
Sunday – May 25, 2014
St. Vincent & the Grenadines 0, U.S. Virgin Islands 0
Antigua & Barbuda 1, Aruba 0
Tuesday – May 27, 2014
U.S. Virgin Islands 1, Aruba 0
Antigua & Barbuda 1, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 0
Table
(Games Played, Wins, Draws, Losses, Goals For, Goals Against, Points)
*Antigua & Barbuda 3-3-0-0-3-0-9
St. Vincent & the Grenadines 3-1-1-1-2-1-4
U.S. Virgin Islands 3-1-1-1-1-1-4
Aruba 3-0-0-3-0-4-0
* advances to 2014 CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup final round
GROUP 2 (at Bayamon, Puerto Rico – Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel)
Results
Friday – May 23, 2014
Martinique 3, Barbados 1
Sunday – May 25, 2014
Puerto Rico 1, Barbados 0
Tuesday – May 27, 2014
Puerto Rico 1, Martinique 1
Table
(Games Played, Wins, Draws, Losses, Goals For, Goals Against, Points)
*Martinique 1-1-1-0-4-2-4
Puerto Rico 2-1-1-0-2-1-4
Barbados 2-0-0-2-1-4-0
* advances to 2014 CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup final round
GROUP 3 (at Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands – TCIFA National Academy)
Results
Friday – May 23, 2014
Cayman Islands 0, St. Kitts & Nevis 5
Turks & Caicos Islands 0, Bermuda 5
Sunday – May 25, 2014
Bermuda 2, Cayman Islands 2
Turks & Caicos Islands 0, St. Kitts & Nevis 4
Tuesday – May 27, 2014
St. Kitts & Nevis 1, Bermuda 3
Turks & Caicos 0, Cayman Islands 3
Table
(Games Played, Wins, Draws, Losses, Goals For, Goals Against, Points)
*Bermuda 3-2-1-0-10-3-7
St. Kitts & Nevis 3-2-0-1-10-3-6
Cayman Islands 3-1-1-1-5-7-4
Turks & Caicos Islands 3-0-0-3-0-12-0
* advances to 2014 CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup final round
GROUP 4 (at Mirebalais, Haiti – Park Bayas)
Friday – May 30, 2014
Cuba v Suriname
Haiti v Guadeloupe
Sunday – June 1, 2014
Guadeloupe v Cuba
Haiti v Suriname
Tuesday – June 3, 2014
Suriname v Guadeloupe
Haiti v Cuba
GROUP 5 (at San Cristobal, Dominican Republic – Estadio Panamericano)
Wednesday – June 18, 2014
Jamaica v St. Lucia
Dominican Republic v Anguilla
Friday – June 20, 2014
Anguilla v Jamaica
Dominican Republic v St. Lucia
Sunday – June 22, 2014
St. Lucia v Anguilla
Dominican Republic v Jamaica
