… to face Guyana tomorrow
SURINAME edged St Vincent and the Grenadines 1-0 yesterday, when the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s World Cup Qualifiers kicked off at the GCC ground, Bourda.
The Dutch side’s team captain Aisa Smit converted the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.
The neighbouring Dutch country next face hosts Guyana in a second Group `A’ fixture, tomorrow, at the same venue, beginning at 15:30 h.
After being held to a 0-0 tie at the end of the first session, the Surinamese upped the ante but was met by some solid defence work from the St Vincent and the Grenadines defenders.
However, 20 minutes into the second session, Suriname’s over-lapping midfielder, Mervil Blatz, received a pass on the right wing and zeroed into the opposition’s 18-yard box and was brought down and instantly referee Nicole Joseph blew for foul.
Smit, who took the resulting penalty shot, placed the ball flat to the right of St Vincent custodian Sheree-Ann John, sending her team into the lead.
However, the less than 100 paying spectators were left astonished by the referee’s decision to award a penalty, since it was evident that Blatz was not fouled, but simply threw herself to the ground.
From the start of the match, it was evident that the Surinamese were enjoying more ball possession than their opponents in the first half but both teams lacked cohesion. 
Suriname’s first run down earned them a direct shot to goal which St Vincent custodian Sheree-Ann John blocked, but the ball went over the goal line and a corner was awarded but the Dutch side failed to convert.
For the remainder of the session, Suriname failed to make a direct strike at their opponents’ goal, but were able to force three other corners which were all wasted.
St Vincent for their part had one direct shot to Suriname’s custodian Nathalie Benjamin who saved well. The Islanders also forced one corner but were unable to convert it.
St. Vincent came very close to scoring nearing the end of the first period, but poor finishing caused them not to.
St Vincent’s Asha Richards had dribbled two of Suriname’s defenders but could not have played off the ball to her supporting striker while Benjamin was way off her line and beaten.
Soon after, St Vincent’s Arima Franklyn made a pass to team mate Riq Trimmingham who arrowed to the opposition’s goal but booted the ball straight to Benjamin who made a clean save.
During the second period, Suriname’s Annashine Springer received the ball in her defence area and took it all the way into St Vincent’s 18-yard box, then passed it to an unmarked Jolanda Saling who failed miserably to convert.
It was after this that the Dutch were awarded a controversial penalty that was converted.
During the session, Suriname had two direct shots (minus the one from the penalty spot) to St. Vincent’s goal but John did an excellent job of saving both, while their opponents had three direct shots to goal and forced four corners.
The Dutch side earned three points for the win but will come up against a strong Guyana team tomorrow. Guyana are also down to play St Vincent on Sunday at the same venue from 15:30 h.