Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba claim Caribbean berths in CONCACAF Women’s U-20s

November 24, 2009

Cuba claimed the last berth in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, beating St. Kitts and Nevis 6-0 Sunday to join Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica as the Caribbean representatives.

Trinidad will travel to Guatemala in January as the Caribbean champion, earning that honor with a 1-1 draw against Jamaica on Sunday and finishing atop the four-team finals with a better goal difference.

The trio will face Central American winner Costa Rica, which clinched its berth on September 6, host Guatemala and North American entrants Canada, Mexico and the United States in the eight-team finals.

Yelenia Gallardo scored four goals for Cuba, two in each half, against St. Kitts and Nevis, and finished with six in the Caribbean qualifying.

Karissa Rodney tallied in the 85th minute for Trinidad to earn the draw for Trinidad and Tobago after Semone Honeghan had given Jamaica the lead in the 68th.

Forward Mariah Shade and midfielder Natasha St. Louis finished atop the scoring leaders with eight goals apiece, same as Raquel Rodriguez of Costa Rica, who has six in a 9-0 victory over Honduras on August 16.

MACOYA, Trinidad

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Blazer kicks off ticket sales for Club World Cup

September 1, 2009

CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer kicked off ticket sales for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup on Tuesday, attending a formal launch with local officials in his first event as chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee.

One hundred days remain before the start of the December 9-19 event in Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and Zayed Stadium, only the second time the championship has been staged outside of Japan.

“This competition goes from strength to strength every year,” said Blazer, who asuumed chairmanship of the Club World Cup Organizing Committee earlier this year. “I remember Sir Alex Ferguson saying last year that whatever the club goes on to achieve in the future, people will always be able to look back at the records and see that in 2008, Manchester United were the champions of world club football.

“I know that people in the UAE are very passionate about their football and with extensive refurbishments of both stadiums having been made, I am sure fans will enjoy a fantastic tournament.”

Five-time and reigning United Arab Emirate champion Al Ahli will open the tournament against Oceania champion Auckland City, with CONCACAF champion Atlante awaiting in the quarterfinals. European champion Barcelona and South American winner Estudiantes will join the event in the semifinals, but he match schedule will not be known until November when the Asian and African champions are determined.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates

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