Four Caribbean teams will be hoping to break into the much-anticipated inaugural staging of the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup when they contest the preliminary round of competition at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on Saturday.

With only three spots up for grabs, only two teams from the Caribbean, and one from Central America, will progress to join United States, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Canada, Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica in the main event.

Guyana vs. Dominican Republic

Guyana and the Dominican Republic take the pitch in a first-ever encounter. Both teams are no strangers to the hustle, as they won their respective groups in League B of the qualifiers.

Having tallied 20 goals in their five wins and a draw, Guyana arrived in California ready to impress and they certainly possess enough quality to do so. Otesha Charles, who scored seven goals during the qualifiers, and Jalade Trim, who scored a brace in the last win, are key players to watch.

The Dominican Republic also know plenty about success, as they booked their spot in the preliminary stage as Group B winners in League B. Like Guyana, Dominican Republic registered five wins and a draw in six games, with a tally of 24 goals.

Jazmin Jackson, who had four goals in that total, will be the Spanish-speaking Caribbean team’s biggest threat in front of goal, with goalkeeper Odaliana Gomez and the defensive line, hoping to add to the four clean sheets they had in the qualifiers.

With not much separating the two teams, it is left to be seen, who will execute more efficiently, both in offensively and in the defence to come out on top.

Haiti vs. Puerto Rico

By all indications, Haiti will start firm favourites in their contest against Puerto Rico, not only because they have won four of the last six meetings between the two, but also due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup experience under their belts.

Haiti have scored 12 times against Puerto Rico, while conceding five. That coupled, with the fact that last year’s appearance at the global showpiece in Australia and New Zealand, has added impetus to their charge, all but signals their readiness for their next challenge.

Haitian legend Nerilia Mondesir, who scored six goals and provided eight assists, along with Batcheba Louis, who had five goals in their second-place finish in Group C of League A, will again be critical to their chances of clinching a spot in the group stage.

Puerto Rico’s one win, one draw and a loss, is nowhere close to Haiti’s three wins and a loss, but they are no fluke when it comes to important assignments, and this is an important as any. So, while on paper Haiti are favourites, the game has to be played and Puerto Rico could very well capitalise if the opponents slip up.

Goalkeepers Sydney Martinez and JLo Varada, whichever is given starting duties, will be charged with shutting out Haiti’s attackers.

El Salvador vs. Guatemala

El Salvador and Guatemala have faced each other nine times, with the latter holding a seven-win advantage. Now, they will add a new chapter to their history, with Guatemala are looking to keep the positive record going.

They placed second in Group B of League A, after they secured 2-2 and 1-1 stalemates with the Caribbean’s number one team Jamaica, albeit without their best players.

Knowing what it means to leave everything on the pitch, star players like Ana Lucia Martinez, who was the team’s top scorer (three goals), and Leslie Ramirez (one goal), will be key to their chances.

El Salvador will be looking to continue their winning momentum from the qualifiers where they won all six games to top Group B of League B, with their 24 goals coming from different players.

Brenda Ceren led the way in scoring five goals, closely followed by Danya Gutierrez, Samaria Gomez and Danielle Fuentes with four goals each.

Bermuda and the Dominican Republic continued their winning form in the race for top honours in Group C of League B, as the curtains came down on the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers October fixtures on Tuesday.

Bermuda consolidated their lead atop the group, as they moved to 10 points, still one ahead of Dominican Republic, which sets a course for a potential group-decider on the final matchday. That means Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines are currently out of contention for a playoff spot. 

Bermuda vs. Barbados

Bermuda won 4-2 against Barbados at the National Sports Center in Devonshire Parish.

Jaden Masters opened the scoring for Bermuda in the sixth minute when she dispossessed a defender and struck a left-footed shot past Kamilla Burke.

Victoria Davis added a second in the 10th with a delightfully taken freekick from a distance that gave Burke no chance at a save.

Two-minute later, Aaliyah Nolan then added a third for the hosts as she dismissed her marker and drove home a right-footed shot from deep inside the box.

Ashanee Thompson reduced the deficit for Barbados in the 34th. She picked up a short corner and later found time and space outside the box to put a curve ball to the far post.

Thompson grabbed a second for the visitors in the 45+5 after a throw-in quickly developed into danger inside the penalty area and a quick hit from the forward beat Zakhari Turner, in goal for Bermuda, all ends up.

A second yellow card for Khyla Brangman in the 47th resulted in Bermuda going down to 10 players early in the second half.

But with their one-goal advantage, Bermuda kept Barbados at bay and Nolan added another for assurance in the 74th. She connected with a Masters pass that went behind the defence and tucked away shot to complete her brace.

Rianna Cyrus almost pulled Barbados back within reach with a 79th-minute shot that just went over the crossbar. 

Substitutes Felicia Jarvis and Makela Alleyne combined in the 90+3 to try to force a dramatic finish, but Bermuda's Turner was there for the stop on a night in which she had five saves.

 

Dominican Republic vs. St Vincent and the Grenadines

The Dominican Republic was victorious, 4-0, over St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo.

Jazmin Jackson put the home side in the lead at the second minute with a right-footed shot in front of goal. Nadia Colon, who advanced the play through the left flank, provided the assist.

Lucia Marte extended the lead in the 18th, as she headed in a perfectly weighted corner kick from Winibian Peraltainside.

Jaylen Vallecillo added a third in the 40ith a header of her own inside the box.

Gabriella Cuevas added her name to the scoresheet from a rebound on the hour mark, after Renata Cuevas headed a corner kick on frame.

Dominican Republic earned a penalty kick, but Vanessa Kara’s attempt in the 64th was stopped by Altica Benn in goal for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Benn again came up big in the 69th as Cuevas had another hit towards goal.

The Dominican Republic made a big statement in their hopes to win Group C of League B as the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers continued on Friday.

Bermuda remains first in the group after a draw in Barbados. That point is the lone separator between Bermuda and Dominican Republic, who now has a superior goal difference and is chasing the playoff spot.

St Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic took an 8-0 win against St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex in Kingstown.

The visitors took the lead in the first as Vanessa Kara lobbed a perfect ball under the top post, which gave goalkeeper Tishana James no chance at a save.

Jazmin Jackson added a second in the ninth with her elusive footwork inside the box and a right-footed shot just inside the left post.

Kathrynn Gonzalez extended the lead in the 17th by putting away a loose ball in the box.

Winibian Peralta earned a penalty after she was felled inside the area. Peralta converted from the spot in the 23rd to make it four unanswered.

Aaliyah Anderson tried to get one back for the home side in the 30th but visiting goalkeeper Odaliana Gomez was alert with the save.

Kathrynn Gonzalez completed a double in the 33rd with a rocket from distance.

Jackson also earned her second of the day in the 40th with a header. Lucia Marte was instrumental by starting the play from an interception and dribbling into the box to cross it across goal.

Jackson completed her hat-trick in the 58th with another header in front of goal. Brianne Reed provided the long cross into the box for the assist.

Dahien Cabrera added an eighth in the 87th to complete a build-up through the right flank as the Dominican Republic obtained his second win of the group stage.

 

Barbados vs. Bermuda

Barbados and Bermuda tied 1-1 at the Wildey Astro Turf Stadium in Bridgetown.

Bermuda’s Aaliyah Nolan was denied by the left post in the 10th in a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Nolan would eventually get the opening goal in the 24th with a drive through the middle of the field and a left-footed shot to the back of the net. Eva Frazzoni delivered the long service for the assist on the play.

The visitors then generated a free kick opportunity in the 36th but Victoria Davis’s attempt was just wide.

Adrienne Forde notched the equalizer in the 47th off a corner kick opportunity earned from an aggressive Barbados to start the second half.

Bermuda’s Akeyla Furbert nearly got around the defense in the 86th, but Barbados goalkeeper Kamilla Burke impeded the through ball becoming a more dangerous situation.

Jaden Masters then looked to have the winner in the 88th, but Burke delivered a crucial save to keep the score level.

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