Barbados senior women’s football team began their CONCACAF W Gold Cup Qualifying tournament with a bang as they thrashed Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5-0 at the Wildey Turf on Friday.
It took the hosts just ten minutes to get onto the scoresheet in the League B, Group A encounter as a lofted ball into the box by midfielder Shanice Stevenson was poorly dealt with by the Vincentian goalkeeper. Alticia Benn raced off her line to catch the overhit free kick but only succeeded in pushing it into her own net. For the rest of the first half it was the Rianna Cyrus show. Fresh off a double winning season with Weymouth Wales (in which she banged in 23 goals to secure the golden boot), the 23 year old hit a first half hat trick to all but seal the points.
A pass in behind from Shauntae Hinds left the Vincentian defenders on their heels and Cyrus seized on the opportunity, cutting inside onto her left foot and rolling it under the helpless Benn to make it 2-0 in the 19 minute. Stevenson would become a provider as a sumptuous through ball three minutes later put Cyrus one vs one with the goalkeeper whom she duly rounded and fired into the bottom left corner. Much like with the opening goal, a long ball into the penalty area by Stevenson led to the Lady Trident’s fourth of the evening this time via the boot of Rianna Cyrus. Once again St Vincent struggled to deal with an aerial ball into the box and Cyrus showcased her predatory instincts by finding a pocket of space and tapping home the loose ball on the stroke of half time.
The second half was a much quieter affair as the away side tightened things up and looked to reduce further damage to their goal difference. Alticia Benn produced some wonderful saves to deny Cryus and substitute Cheyanna-Burnett either side of the hour mark . The five star performance was eventually crowned in the 74 minute when left back Keinelle Johnson marauded down the left flank to deliver a pinpoint cross for Cheyanna-Burnett to slot away with a first time finish. With the game all but won, the away side had their best opportunity in the dying moments of the contest when forward Raenicia Cuffy was racing towards the Tridents goal. Goalkeeper and captain Kamaillah Burke made sure her side kept the clean sheet with a firm challenge on Cuffy much to the delight of the home crowd who had begun Olès after every successful pass.
Up next for the Lady Tridents is a clash against Dominican Republic (DR) at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez on Tuesday September 26th. DR lost 2-0 last night against Bermuda at the Bermuda National Sports Centre with Jaden Masters scoring a brace.