The Cayman Islands under 20 Women’s Team opened their CFU World Cup Qualifying campaign with an impressive 4-0 win over the hosts Suriname. An excited crowd was on hand at the Essed Stadium in Paramaribo, Suriname to witness Cayman take on the home country.

The first half of game didn’t live up to the billing as both young teams showed signs of nerves and seemed to be overwhelmed by the occasion. The Cayman Islands were fielding a very young team; Eight of Caymans starting eleven were 18 years old or younger.  Cayman managed to create a number of half chances in the first half but unable to convert and went into the dressing room at half time 0-0.

The second half saw Cayman take the ascendancy; the girls came out firing on all cylinders and opened the scoring in the 48th Minute form a set play. Shanice Monteith bent in an inviting cross that was converted by Courtisha Ebanks who managed to rise above the Suriname defenders and power home her header.  Two minutes later Cayman doubled their lead with a superb 25-yard lob from Brianna Hydes who caught the Suriname keeper off her line. Brianna’s goal seemed to push Cayman into overdrive as they came with wave after wave of attack.

Suriname’s resistance was breached again in the 60th Minute when Marrisa McLaughlin latched onto a cross from Jetena Bodden who worked tirelessly all game.

The rout was completed in the 75th minute when Shanice Monteith manufactured a goal out of nothing; Cayman Captain Jessica Ebanks found Monteith in space on the half way line who then ran 45 yards with the ball before calmly slotting home
Cayman’s fourth.

Head Coach Eric Dobrzanski was very satisfied with his teams second half performance and result, Dobrzanski said “The team played an inspired second half and proved that they wanted to make a statement in this round of qualifiers, they realised the adjustments that needed to be made and capitalised, I could not be more proud of every single one of the girls who was wearing a Cayman
jersey tonight”.

Cayman Islands Striker Shanelle Frederick from the Cayman Brac who is still only 15 years old was a constant threat in attack and instrumental in everything that Cayman had to offer going forward. Shanelle said “It’s an honour to put on the Cayman Shirt and play with these girls, they are all my sisters and we are a family. I should have had a few goals tonight but the main thing is that the team won and now we focus on Trinidad
and Tobago”.

The Cayman Islands Under 20 National Team will play Trinidad and Tobago Thursday October 20, 2011 in their final Qualification game of the first round. Kick Off is 5pm Cayman time. For updates, highlights and information please visit www.facebook.com/caymanfootball

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