MIAMI, Florida – League C of the Road to W Gold Cup continued on Thursday with a trio of matches.
Anguilla vs. Cayman Islands
The day started with in Group D with Anguilla defeating Cayman Islands 3-1 at the Raymond E. Guishard Stadium in The Valley, Anguilla.
The star of the day was Carlia Johnson, who notched a hat trick for the home side to collect the three points. Johnson struck first in the 12’ on a left-footed shot and then again right before halftime in the 45+2’ on a tidy finish to give Anguilla a 2-0 lead at the break.
Johnson then tacked on an insurance goal in the 70’ via a header off a corner kick before Cayman Islands got a consolation score in the 89’ through Stoyanna Stewart’s right-footed shot from distance.
Belize vs. Aruba
The first match of the day in Group A saw Belize down Aruba 2-0 at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize.
It was an even first half between the two sides with no goals and just three shots each.
Things ramped up in the second half and in the 65’ Belize were able to break the deadlock through a set piece, as a corner kick swung into the area was headed into goal by Mikhaila Bowden for a 1-0 Belize lead.
Aruba sought to get back on level terms, but the Belize defense held firm and Sabrina Eiley then put the three points on ice for the hosts with a powerful right-footed finish in second half stoppage time to round out the 2-0 scoreline.
Bonaire vs. Turks and Caicos Islands
The day then closed with the second Group A game, as Bonaire played to a 0-0 draw with Turks and Caicos Islands at the Stadion Antonio Trenidat in Rincon, Bonaire.
The big chance of the first 45 minutes belonged to Bonaire in the 22’ when an effort from Nathaniela Emerenciana was tipped onto the crossbar by Turks and Caicos Islands GK Eradianna Ortiz, who made sure to haul the deflection into her arms.
A sending off for Emerenciana in the 76’ gave Turks and Caicos Islands a man advantage for the final quarter-hour, but in the end the hosts’ defense held on to secure the draw.
