Women CAC Games - Cuba & Dominican Republic make to the finals

Cuba and Dominican Republic overcame their semi-finalist opponents Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico 4-2 and 2-0 respectively to book their place in the gold medal match at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games (Women) and have qualified for Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. 

In the first semi-final, Cuba’s sharpshooter Marisbel SIERRA was instrumental in her team’s victory as she netted 3 goals in the match. The forward combination of SIERRA, Helec CARTA and Yuraima VELES ROJAS proved difficult for Trinidad & Tobago’s defence to handle and they found themselves 1-0 down in the 9^th minute when SIERRA scored her first goal. Trinidad’s best attacking player, Blair WYNNE, brought her team level 4 minutes later but SIERRA & CARTA both added a goal shortly afterwards to end the 1^st half 3-1.

SIERRA increased her team’s lead when she scored her 3^rd goal in the 49^th minute but WYNNE gave Trinidad a glimmer of hope when she banged home a penalty corner in the 52^nd minute to make the score 4-2.  Cuba however, led by Captain Mileysi ARGENTEL, was rock solid in defence made sure that any hopes of a Trinidad comeback did not materialize.

In the other semi-final, Dominican Republic booked their passage to the final when they beat the host country Mexico 2-0. It was Maria DI SANTI’s 2 goals on either side of half time that gave Dominican Republic their victory. Mexico had the better start to the game with a lot of possession and circle penetration but were kept at bay by Dominican Republic. DI SANTI capitalized on a rebound from the Mexican goalkeeper’s pad to give her team a 1-0 lead in the 23^rd minute and she sealed the victory with her second goal in the 54^th minute. Mexico fought valiantly to get back in the match but Dominican Republic’s defense proved to be impenetrable.

The gold medal match will be played on 23 November 2014 between Dominican Republic and Cuba at 3:30pm while Mexico will face Trinidad & Tobago in the bronze medal match at 1:15 p.m.

Barbados defeated Bermuda 3-0 in their crossover match and will face Guyana, who beat Jamaica 4-2 in a penalty shootout, in the 5^th/6^th match which will be played on 23 November at 11:00 a.m., right after Jamaica faces Bermuda for 7^th/8^th place at 8:45 a.m.

Barbados were held by Bermuda to a 0-0 score at half time but they put the game away in the second half when Charlia WARNER scored in the 41^st minute and Captain Dionne CLARKE added two more goals in the 58^th and 65^th minute.

Jamaica and Guyana, with the former having the better of the play for most of the game, remained scoreless at the end of fulltime as neither team could find the cutting edge in the game to finish off their chances. Guyana’s Gabriella XAVIER, Leigh SANDISON, Chantelle FERNANDES and Ulrica SUTHERLAND scored in the penalty shoot-out while Kamille GRIFFITHS and Chakira AIREY scored for Jamaica.