THE Barbados Belles won the battle, but lost the war when they only defeated US Virgin Islands 1-0 in their final Group C encounter in the Concacaf Under-17 Women’s Championship Qualifiers at the Wildey Turf on Sunday night.
Barbados’ flag would not be flying at next year’s championship as they finished in second place behind group winners Belize.
Belize ended the championship with seven points, but with the greater goal difference of six after a dynamic 4-3 victory over St Kitts and Nevis in the preceding match.
Unbeaten Barbados also gained the same seven points while St Kitts and Nevis were third on three and USVI in fourth position after losing their three matches and failing to gain a point.
Following Belize’s come-from-behind win, after being down at the end of the first half, it meant the Bajan Belles had to score at least seven goals against USVI to advance.
The young Lady Tridents came out hitting hard, playing without Daphne Watson-James and Ryah Dates, who had received two yellow cards in the previous matches.
As early as the second minute, the home team logged their lone goal when midfielder Kerisha Catlyn found her mark following a rebound off a free kick taken by Tanija Maughn.
USVI’s goalkeeper Carmen Rangel fumbled the ball, and Catlyn used the opportunity to her advantage, pocketing into the back of the nets in the second minute of the game, much to the delight of the home fans.
While Barbados maintained the greater ball possession throughout the night, playing mainly in the USVI’s half, they had some difficulty following through on their goal-scoring opportunities from open play. Nevertheless, they displayed plenty of determination with custodian Lisa Harding catching every ball that came her way.
USVI, whose nerves were apparent, raised their defence throughout the game, but they failed to conjure an all-out attack on Barbados while celebrating every goal attempt they managed to block. (BFA/EZS)