Haiti, Puerto Rico join Jamaica in semis
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Host country Haiti topped Group A on goal difference to progress to the semi-finals of the Caribbean Football Union Women’s Under-20 tournament here.
They narrowly finished ahead of Puerto Rico, who had the same number of points, but an inferior goal difference in the three-team group. Third-placed Bermuda were eliminated.
If the young Reggae Girlz top Group B they will face Puerto Rico, but Head Coach Hue Menzies is not too concerned about which team his charges go up against.
He conceded, however, that facing the hosts may prove to be the tougher of the two.
“You don’t want to play the hosts in the semis because of all the support they would get. You prefer to get to the final before facing them. But at the end of the day we’re ready to play whichever team. Puerto are also very good. I just think either team will give us good competition so we have to be ready,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
Up to press time yesterday, Jamaica, the Group B leaders and early semi-final qualifiers with six points from two games, were set to face second-place Trinidad & Tobago (four points) on the artificial turf at the Stade Sylvio Cator.
St Vincent and the Grenadines and Curacao were also set to clash at the venue.
Jamaica sealed their last-four spot with a game remaining after recording 4-1 and 2-0 victories over St Vincent and the Grenadines and Curacao, respectively.
Second place in Group B is up for grabs with Trinidad & Tobago and third-placed St Vincent (one point) in contention.
Curacao, who have lost both their games so far, have no chance of advancing.
Haiti, opening game losers to Puerto Rico 0-3, bounced back to thrash Bermuda 7-0 Sunday night the Sylvio Cator venue to finish with three points and a goal difference of plus four. Puerto Rico (three points) ended second with a goal difference of plus two, despite faltering 0-1 versus Bermuda. The Bermuda team (three points) missed out on a semi-final place due to a goal difference of minus six. Only three countries contested Group A because Dominican Republic withdrew.