A SPIRITED performance by a ten-woman TT football senior team in sweltering conditions gave the home team a 2-1 win over Nicaragua, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Mucurapo, on Thursday.

The match kicked off in brilliant sunshine at 3 pm.

Goals from Asha James in the 17th minute and captain Karyn Forbes in the 64th handed TT the win. Nicaragua pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Yessenia Flores, but TT held on to win the Group F match of the Concacaf Women's Championship qualification tournament.

The match was the first game of the FIFA 2023 World Cup qualification for both teams. The World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

TT's Kedie Johnson was sent off in the closing stages of the first half after getting her second yellow card, but TT battled in the second half to hold on for the victory.

A few hundred fans showed up to support TT and despite the fairly small crowd, they voiced their opinion throughout the contest including their disagreement with the referee’s decisions.

One fan shouted, “Ref you seeing the game in Spanish.”

The referee made questionable decisions on fouls committed.

Speaking after the match, TT coach Kenwyne Jones refrained from complaining about the referee.

He said, “I will not comment on the referee. I think for anyone that watches the game and for anyone that was in the stands it would be plain to see what took place out there, so I am not going to make a personal comment on the referee’s performance.”

Jones commended his players for their fight playing with ten players and facing the hot conditions.

“It was really hot. I think the timing of the game was rough, but both teams played in those conditions and like I said to them before it was about you being able to win your individual battles.”

Goalscorer James was pleased with her performance saying, “My performance I think it could have been much better…(in terms) of the team performance I am definitely satisfied with the 2-1 win. We could have scored a lot more chances, but the three points is what we came for and we got it.”

James said that the team started to train around 3 pm recently to adjust to the hot conditions.

In the early stages of the contest, no team took control of the match.

After Johnson got her first yellow card in the 15th minute, James gave TT the lead in the 17th minute.

A solid build-up play outside the box by James and Lauryn Hutchinson led to the opening goal.

James collected a pass from Hutchinson, ran into the box and converted a left-footer past Nicaragua goalkeeper Dayana Calero.

TT continued to look more threatening going forward with Nicaragua hitting on the counter-attack.

A timely interception by Cayla McFarlane stopped a Nicaragua attack from developing.

In the 27th minute, Hutchinson took a free-kick from the right which almost got to Forbes on the far post but Nicaragua survived.

[caption id="attachment_940268" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TT women midfielder Asha James (10) looks to make a shot on goal against Nicaragua, during the C