On Tuesday, the senior women’s national team of Dominica encountered a challenging match, suffering a 5-0 defeat at the hands of St. Lucia in the WIFA Women’s Championship.
According to a Dominica Football Association media release, the game’s early moments set the tone, as St. Lucia capitalized with two quick goals in the 20th and 21st minutes. These rapid-fire strikes left the Dominican team visibly shaken and immediately put them on the back foot, forcing them to play catch-up throughout the contest.
Head coach Ronnie Gustave reflected on the differences between the two sides, noting the disparity in organization and skill level. “Well, you could see St. Lucia were much more organized than us. And you could see the level of their players were way above the level of our players. You could see their entire team had the basics. And seeing that they had a few foreign players as well made a big difference in the game.”
He also emphasized the ongoing nature of team development, adding, “Nevertheless, we are in a competition and we are supposed to do a good account of ourselves. But as I have said early on in previous interviews, we are trying to build a team. And you cannot build a team just in a month. It’s going to take a while,” he added.
Despite the setback, Dominica showed resilience after the initial onslaught. The team regrouped and displayed moments of determination, though they struggled to translate possession into meaningful attacking opportunities.
Harve acknowledged the efforts of some players, highlighting their growth and impact on the field.“Well, Dymond is one of the people who has always been coming up big for us. I saw a few new players like Anessa (Lean) Laurent. It’s her first time playing on that level. And she did a good account of herself as well this evening.”
“I have to say Dymond has come a very long way. Two years ago, she made her debut on the senior national team. And she was in Suriname with us. And she got her opportunity in that game there…And then she has not given up. She has
been working on her own. And you could see that she has come so far as well. She has elevated. And that’s what we need from each player.”
St. Lucia remained determined and aggressive, extending their lead with a third goal in the 61st minute. The Dominica squad attempted to turn the tide with substitutions made in the 81st minute, aiming to inject fresh energy into the attack. However, before these changes could bear fruit, St. Lucia struck again in the 82nd minute, widening the gap to 4-0.
The match concluded with a final goal in stoppage time, as St. Lucia added a fifth in the 90+1 minute, securing a dominant 5-0 victory over Dominica.
Listen to the after-game interview with coach Ronnie Gustave below:
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