HAITI maintained their slim hopes of advancing in the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers after a commanding 4-1 victory over Bermuda in Group A, while Trinidad and Tobago suffered another heavy defeat to El Salvador in Group C on Wednesday.

Haiti’s triumph over Bermuda kept them in contention for one of four spots to the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, but group leaders Mexico strengthened their hold on the top spot with a dominant 4-0 win over Costa Rica. Meanwhile, in Group C, the United States reaffirmed their supremacy with a 7-0 demolition of Honduras, and El Salvador surged into second place after cruising past Trinidad and Tobago.

In the curtain raiser at the Mini Estadio de la Federación Mexicana de Fútbol in Mexico, Haiti opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Ella Etienne calmly converted from the penalty spot.

Three minutes later, Dominique Desert doubled the lead with a well-placed header inside the penalty area. Etienne struck again in the 28th minute, guiding a clinical finish to the far post to make it 3-0.

Despite holding a comfortable lead, Haiti faced adversity when goalkeeper Kalea Tranchant was sent off in the 38th minute for a foul outside the box, forcing them to play the remainder of the match with 10 players. However, their attacking intent remained undeterred, and Maya Piquion converted another penalty in the 82nd minute to seal the win.

Bermuda found a late consolation goal in stoppage time when Nila Samuels fired a stunning long-range strike in the 90+4 minute.

Meanwhile, Mexico reinforced their dominance in Group A with another comfortable win. Citlalli Reyes set the tone with a clinical penalty conversion in the 28th minute before Joselyn Solis unleashed a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner just three minutes later.

Dafne Sánchez added a stunning long-range effort in first-half stoppage time (45+1) to put Mexico firmly in control. Reyes rounded out the emphatic win in the 78th minute, converting another penalty for her second goal of the match.

Over in Group C at Ato Boldon Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago, the United States continued their ruthless march with the drubbing of Honduras.

Kimmi Ascanio broke the deadlock just before halftime (45th), and the floodgates opened in the second half. Micayla Johnson (47th), Ashlyn Anderson (51st), Pearl Cecil (56th), Riley Kennedy (60th), and Jaiden Rodríguez (65th) all found the net in quick succession.

Anderson completed the rout in the 74th minute, scoring her second of the match with a close-range finish. The win keeps the United States firmly atop Group C, having yet to concede a goal in the tournament.

In the feature, Trinidad and Tobago endured another difficult outing, though they held their own in the first half and would have hoped to steal a march in the second half, but it was not to be.

El Salvador broke the deadlock when Abigail Salgado fired home in the 58th minute with a spectacular curling strike. Three minutes later, Maya Buerger doubled the lead with a clinical finish inside the penalty area.

Angie Alvarenga then took over, netting twice in the closing stages (86th and 90th). Her first came from a well-taken free kick, while her second was a thunderous long-range strike into the top right corner. (Sportsmax)