February 17 – Dominican Republic beat Guyana 1-0 at Dignity Health Park in Carson, California, in the first tie of the W Gold Cup preliminary rounds. to qualify for the group stages of the W Gold Cup, and an opening match against the USA.
In a game that the Dominican Republic dominated but failed to take their chances, it was settled by a long range strike by Kat Gonzalez in the second half.
Guyana and. Dominican Republic had never played each other before, arriving at the play-offs having both topped their groups in League B of the Concacaf Nations League.
DR will now move on to the group stage catapulted into the top tier of women’s international football, beginning with the USA match and followed with matches against Argentina and Mexico.
The Dominicans took control of the game from start with a possession-based game, their first chance falling to Mia Asenjo on two minutes. Coming in from the right Asenjo dragged her shot across the face of the goal.
Guyana’s captain and goalkeeper Chante Sandford was to have a busy half . On 5 minutes saved point blank from Alyssa Oviedo, two minutes later she saved again to her left from a header by Brianne Reed.
Dominican Republic were slicing through Guyana’s left side at will but wasting chances. Asenjo miscued a simple side foot in front of goal.
Guyana’s standout threat was Otesha Charles, who on 19’ worked the ball across to Shanice Alfred whose shot was pushed wide by Paloma Pena in the DR goal.
At the other end Asenjo missed another open goal, while Sandford was again called into action on 37’ to block another good chance.
At half time the score was 0-0, but the advantage was with the DR who with 64% possession had 11 shots on goal and five on target, against just one shot on target for Guyana.
Guyana opened the second half with more purpose but on 54’ DR had their goal.
A corner from Winibian Peralta was laid off by Jaylen Vallecillo to Kat Gonzalez on the edge of the box who hammered the ball past a rooted Sandford – 1-0.
Forced to find a response, Guyana started to build up a passage of possession. On 66’ Annalisa Vincent hit a corner first time over the top.
DR would have been two up on 73’ if not for another save from Sandford who along with centre back Jenea Knight had been outstanding. A ball from the right was well met by Vanessa Kara only for Sandford to claw the ball away with a reaction save.
DR continued to waste chances with Asenjo blasting over the top again when through on goal.
DR return on Tuesday for the next stage of the inaugural W Gold Cup.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713960683labto1713960683ofdlr1713960683owedi1713960683sni@n1713960683osloh1713960683cin.l1713960683uap1713960683