Women CAC Games - Cuba obtains Gold Medal - Day 5

 Cuba were crowned 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games (Women) gold medalists when they edged Dominican Republic 4-3 in a penalty shootout after both teams played to an exciting 3-3 draw at the end of regulation time. The host country Mexico beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 to win the bronze medal. Cuba and Dominican Republic have also qualified for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

The Tournament’s Top Goal Scorer, Cuba’s Marisbel SIERRA, opened the scoring in the 2^nd minute giving her team a 1-0 lead. Dominican Republic however weathered the initial storm with Captain Soledad DEL PINO and Player of the Tournament, Benifer MORONTA marshalling their team’s defence and dictating the play. MORONTA drew Dominican Republic level 1-1 when she scored a penalty stroke in the 20^th minute and Lucia NAVAMUEL struck 4 minutes later from a penalty corner to give her team a 2-1 lead.

Cuba fought their way back into the game and 3 minutes into the second half, Teresa De La ROSA put away a rebound from the goalkeeper to make it 2-2 but there were more goals to come and Dominican Republic went ahead 3-2 in the 47^th minute when Magalys ORTEGA looped a shot over the advancing goalkeeper. Their celebrations were however short lived as De La ROSA scored the equalizing goals 3 minutes later to make it 3-3 and this score remained unchanged at the end of 70 minutes.

The match was settled via a penalty shootout, which Cuba won 4-3, and the goal scorers were: 

Cuba:  Marisbel SIERRA, Yaniuska PASO, Yailin ABRAHAN and Yuriama VERA ROJAS

Dominica Republic: Cecilia OFLAHERTI, Magalys ORTEGA, Lucia NAVAMUEL

Mexico’s Ana SUAREZ scored two second half goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and help her team claim the bronze medal when they beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-1. Trinidad and Tobago got off to a flying start when Captain Alanna LEWIS scored in the 3^rd minute. However Mexico’s Ana SUAREZ scored two second half goals to clinch the game.

Two goals by Venessa CHEWITT helped Barbados secure 5^th place at the Central American and Caribbean Games (Women) when they beat Guyana 3-0. Barbados’ Keisha JORDAN gave her team a 1-0 lead in the 11^th minute, with CHEWITT scoring two more in the 22^nd and 60^th minute.

Jamaica earned 7^th place when they beat Bermuda 2-0, courtesy of goals scored by Trudy-Ann KNIGHT and Shana-Kay TULLONGUE in the 24^th and 45th minute respectively.