4. SCOUTING REPORT: Women's Gold Cup
- by Soccer America , Nov 17, 2006
The USA faces the Mexico-T&T winner and Canada meets the Jamaica-Panama winner next Wednesday at the Home Depot Center with two berths at China '07 on the line. Here's a look at the four teams playing Sunday in Miami.
JAMAICA. Vin Blaine's Reggae Girlz outscored their opponents, 36-0, in Caribbean qualifying. Jamaica won't be at 100 percent for the Panama game. Shanique Mitchell, one of its top strikers, and Shakira Duncan were denied visas to enter the USA. Three players -- Yolanda Hamilton, Omolyn Davis and Hishamar Falconer -- are competing for Lindsey Wilson in the NAIA Championships.
MEXICO. Mexico is the first Spanish-speaking nation to have qualified for all of the FIFA women's tournaments: World Cup, Olympics, U-20s and U-19s. The Tri is a legitimate threat if it reaches the semifinals. It upset Canada in qualifying for the 2004 Olympics. Leo Cuellar's squad is loaded with international veterans like Maribel Dominguez and Iris Mora. Also on the roster are a pair of teenage strikers: Charlyn Corral, the 15-year-old sensation who has moved to Goshen, Ind., to attend high school, and 19-year-old Monica Ocampo.
PANAMA. The Canaleras beat out Costa Rica and Guatemala to advance to the Gold Cup for the second straight time. Lizandro Barbaran, who was named technical director in 2006, has one U.S.-based player: Ymara Guante, who was named a 2006 all-conference pick for the W-League's Mile High Edge.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. The Soca Princesses' highest finish in a CONCACAF women's competition was third place at the inaugural championship in 1991. Marlon Charles' team is loaded with U.S. collegians, including three players from teams competing in the NJCAA D1 finals: Ayana Russell and Aveann Douglas of defending champion Monroe and Kennya Cordner of Young Harris.
