By Rawle Toney in Houston Texas

WITH Trinidad and Tobago losing 6-0 to Canada, the Lady Jags hold a one-goal advantage over their Caribbean neighbours and would only need a draw today to advance to the semi-final round of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier tournament. The game starts at 17:00hrs (18:00hrs EST/19:00hrs GY Time).Guyana stunned Guatemala in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory on Valentine’s Day with Mariam El-Masri scoring the equaliser after Ana Lucia Martinez had given the Central Americans the lead in the 54th minute. Then Alison Heydorn scored one of the goals of the tournament in the 76th minute to hand the Lady Jags the win and three points.

The last time Guyana and Trinidad played was at the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Cancun Mexico, where the Lady Jags went down 4-1, with El-Masri scoring their lone goal.
However, almost six years later, today’s game paints a different story; one which shows growth and maturity in the Lady Jags team which will make the game against Trinidad very interesting.
Seven goals were scored against Trinidad while only being able to get two of their own, placing the Twin Island Republic on -5; one behind Guyana who had only six goals scored against them.
If coach Mark Rodrigues ladies could replicate their defence played against Canada and Guatemala then Guyana would be creating history once again and will play the USA in the semi-final.
Trinidad are seemingly more equipped with experience, especially not being strangers to this tournament and level of competition, despite not getting past the group stage on both occasions (2008, 2009).
The team, though still going through a change of administration, and their own woes, have been more exposed internationally than the Lady Jags. In fact, Trinidad are the Caribbean’s highest-ranked women’s national team at 48 and fifth in CONCACAF behind the USA (1), Canada (2), Mexico (3) and Costa Rica (4).
Guyana, ranked 89 by FIFA (9th in CONCACAF), played only their fifth match since 2010, but still managed to succeed – something Rodrigues credits to his team’s all-round talent and ability to adjust to his playing style.
Heydorn, El-Masri, Ashlee Savona and captain Ashley Rodrigues are the usual goal-getters for Rodrigues. In 2010, El-Masri scored two of Guyana’s three goals at the Gold Cup. Kayla DeSouza had netted the other.
Another factor that puts the game in the favour of Guyana is Chante Sandiford’s brilliance in goal as compared to Trinidad’s Kimika Forbes.
Sandiford, 25, had a stellar career in the U.S. collegiate system with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and made her debut for Guyana in the CFU qualifiers after having ‘call-ups’ by the USA for several youth tournaments.
With stints in several professional leagues around Europe, Sandiford who now plays with UMF Selfoss in Iceland is said to be Rodrigues biggest addition to his roster.
Interestingly, how Guyana defend against Trinidad’s attack led by Arin King, Tasha St Louis, Maylee Attin-Johnson and Kennya Cordner, will determine their destiny and further participation.
The aforementioned players are the stars and faces of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s National programme. They’ve played a part in every historic moment for the Twin Island Republic and it is expected that they will carry the ‘Red Black and White’ to the next stage of qualification.