ORLANDO, Florida – Defending champion Canada (3W-0D-0L, 9 points) became the first team to secure a quarterfinal berth in the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship, when it posted a 5-0 win over Jamaica (0-0-2, 0) on Thursday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Sydney Kennedy’s brace led the way for the Canadians, who are guaranteed to finish no worse than second in Group B
Also, in Group B, El Salvador (1-1-0, 4) and Costa Rica (1-1-1, 4) battled to a 3-3 draw in a hotly-contested encounter that produced three yellow cards in the last two minutes of play.
The other four contested games saw all eight teams launch their tournament campaigns. From those outings, three sides posted shutouts in victory: Barbados, Bermuda and Curacao. Tiana Sealy was the top scorer of the day, netting three goals as Barbados topped the US. Virgin Islands, 9-0.
Friday ushers in the fourth straight day of play as the United States (v Haiti) and Puerto Rico (v Grenada) look to maintain their unblemished records.
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2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Florida, USA
Match Recaps – August 11, 2016
GROUP B
Canada 5, Jamaica 0
Sydney Kennedy (23’, 51’) scored two goals and Canada earned a 5-0 win over Jamaica. The result ensured that the Canadians would end the day at the top of the table and confirmed their place in the quarterfinals. Teni Akindoju (31’) and Jordyn Huitema (45’ pen) notched their second goals of the competition, while Caitlin Shaw (57’) netted her first.
El Salvador 3, Costa Rica 3
Maria Paula Salas (32’, 51’ pen, 64’) struck for a hat-trick, including the game's last goal, to help Costa Rica to a 3-3 draw with El Salvador in an all-Central American affair. The Salvadorans took a 1-0 lead through Maggi Segovia, but Salas answered five minutes later. Lesly Calderon (47’, 52’), who netted a pair of goals in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Venezuela, put El Salvador ahead 2-1 and equalized at 2-2. The final word, however, belonged to the outstanding Salas.
GROUP D
Barbados 9, US Virgin Islands 0
Marissa King (22’, 66’) scored the first and last goals as Barbados posted a 9-0 win over the US Virgin Islands. The Barbadians were buoyed by a three-goal explosion from Tiana Sealy (32’, 51’, 63’). Caitlin Padmore (24’, 49’) added a brace, while Rowland Kirton-Browne (38’) and Asha Stevenson contributed with a goal each.
Curacao 3, Anguilla 0
Lindsey Hart (66’, 70’+2) scored twice late and Curacao outlasted a spirited Anguilla side, 3-0. Staygin Stephens (35’) struck just before halftime to give the Curacaoans a 1-0 lead.
GROUP E
Bermuda 3, Cayman Islands 0
In an intriguing encounter, Bermuda topped the Cayman Islands, 3-0. The Bermudians took a 2-0 lead into halftime on goals by Adia Gibbons (3’) and Leilanni Nesbeth (34’). Nia Christopher (60’) completed the scoreline, using the outside of her right foot to net off a cross whisked in from the left by Jaden Masters. The Cayman Islands, however, looked dangerous offensively throughout the morning, only to be thwarted on numerous occasions by Bermuda’s impressive defense.
Antigua & Barbuda 1, Bahamas 4
Tyra McKenzie (14’, 70’+1 pen) netted a brace and the Bahamas earned a 4-1 win over Antigua & Barbuda. The Bahamians also got goals from Gabrielle Simms (16’) and Mickell Yallop (65’). Zolique Samuels (4’) gave Antigua a 1-0 lead before five minutes has passed.
