Trinidad and Tobago's campaign in the 2024 Concacaf women's Gold Cup qualifiers came to an end on Tuesday night, as the host team fell 1-0 to group winners Mexico at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. TT finished at the bottom of the three-team League A group with a solitary point after losing three of their four matches.
Mexico ended the group with a perfect 12 points and booked their spot in the Gold Cup. Puerto Rico finished second on four points and will advance to the Gold Cup preliminary round.
TT gave a much-improved effort from the 6-0 loss they suffered away to Mexico in Pachuca in September, but a gem of a long-range effort by defender Cristina Ferral settled the match in the 40th minute and broke the stubborn resistance of the hosts.
Needing an unlikely four-goal win to book a spot in the Gold Cup prelims, TT showed their intent from the opening whistle as coach Richard Hood sought to get on the front foot with a 4-4-2 formation which saw the pair of Asha James and Tsaianne Leander starting in attack. Hood asked his team to be braver in possession, and they did string passes together in the early stages. However, the Mexicans quickly assumed control of the game as they looked for the opening item.
The centre-back pairing of Shaunalee Govia and Victoria Swift were solid for TT as the hosts were pushed back into a low block. Zoe Maxwell was composed in possession in the middle of the park and goalkeeper Simone Eligon was again impressive between the uprights with several fine saves.
Overall, Hood was pleased with his team's improved defensive showing.
"I was satisfied with the efforts from the team and satisfied with the organisation. I am not so much satisfied with the offensive part, as I thought we struggled to keep the ball," Hood said in the post-match briefing.
"I am happy with the performance and the effort from the younger girls. I thought the real purpose for me in this game was to keep demonstrating the improvements (we have made), and I think we did that."
With the TT defence holding firm in the first half, Mexico were reduced to shots from long range. However, they could not quite find their radar early as efforts by Jimena Lopez and attacker Jacqueline Ovalle went over Eligon's goal. Ovalle tried to catch the TT custodian napping with a cheeky free kick in the 31st minute, but her left-footed attempt drifted just wide of the post.
The 23-year-old Eligon, who was named to the Concacaf League A Best XI for the October window, commanded her area as she plucked a number of dangerous crosses out of the air. However, just before halftime, Ferral beat the TT goalie with a ferocious long-range drive which whistled into the top corner.
"Simone has been magnificent. She has come up big for us in each of the (three) games she has played. She was a little nervous in her first game against Puerto Rico but that is understandable. International football is a completely different kettle of fish."
In the second half, Eligon made at least two jaw-dropping saves. She made a brillian
