DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – The group stage of the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship in the Dominican Republic has come to a close following the results of the final matches in Group F and Group H on Thursday.
All eyes were on the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo where host nation Dominican Republic took on Bermuda, with the winner set to advance to the knockout round from Group F.
In the end, the spoils belonged to the Dominican Republic, who collected a 5-0 win. Julia Jimenez and Renata Mercedes each had braces, with Jimenez scoring in the 3’ and 52’, while Mercedes got her goals in the 10’ and 87’. Also joining that dynamic duo on the scoresheet was Ariana Diaz in the 61’.
The win was also the first CWU17 victory ever for the Dominican Republic.
With their places in the Round of 16 both already secured, Canada and Jamaica squared off at the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristobal to determine the winner of Group F.
Natoya Atkinson had the Reggae Girlz dreaming of first place after her score in the 38’ for a 1-0 lead, but Canada found the 1-1 equalizer in the 50’ through Renee Watson, a scoreline that held until the final whistle, meaning Canada won the group on goal difference.
Haiti are also through to the Round of 16 after topping Guatemala 3-1 in Group H at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez.
Ancie-Love Houanche gave the Caribbean side a 1-0 lead in the 3’, followed by scores from Ronise Joseph in the 70’ and Walandjina Cyriaque in the 82’. Guatemala would finish on a positive note, however, as Flor Perla scored in the 90+5’ to get the Chapines on the scoreboard.
Despite a 3-0 defeat to El Salvador, Cuba still reached the Round of 16 with a third-place finish, trailing second-place Haiti and group winners El Salvador.
El Salvador completed their perfect Group H at the Estadio Panamericano, as Victoria Sanchez (41’), Caroline Ayala (53’) and Mia Arevalo (58’) all scored to deliver the three points.
