Khalydia Velasquez scores Belize only goal. – 
Screenshot ESPN / Concacaf
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Belize Women’s National Team (BWNT) fell 6–1 to the Dominican Republic on Friday evening in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, in their second match of Group D in the Concacaf W Qualifiers. The hosts controlled possession, tempo, and chances throughout, while Belize battled through long defensive spells and found their brightest moment through Khalydia Velasquez just before halftime.
The Dominican Republic opened the scoring in the 16th minute, when Brianne Reid headed home from a right‑side delivery. Two minutes later, Mia Asenjo doubled the lead after beating Shante Chacon, cutting inside, and finishing low to the left of goalkeeper Angelica Lopez.
The hosts added a third in the 23rd minute, when a long‑range effort scraped the head of Gabriella Cuevas, struck the post, and bounced in, wrong‑footing the Belize defence and Lopez.
By the 27th minute, the Dominican Republic had already produced eight shots, while Belize were still searching for their first attempt. Belize also suffered a scare in the 19th minute, when Jaysha Bernardez twisted her left ankle after clearing under pressure, though she continued.
Belize pulled one back in 45’+2, when Khalydia Velasquez beat Cuevas for pace and finished low to make it 3–1, giving the BWNT a lift heading into the break.
Belize made a halftime change, with Shamika Lambey replacing Elva Nunes, but the Dominican Republic restored their three‑goal lead in the 48th minute. Lopez was unable to fully control a loose ball, and Asenjo reacted quickest to score her second of the night.
The hosts extended the lead to 5–1 in the 59th minute, when Asenjo stretched to flick a pass with the back of her boot into the path of Alyssa Oviedo, who finished from the left.
Belize received a caution in the 63rd minute, when Mikhaila Bowden was shown a yellow card. Two more substitutions followed in the 73rd minute, with Kenya Perez replacing Alisha Terry and Ceneia Apolonio coming on for Jaysha Bernardez.
Belize created a late chance in the 81st minute, when Velasquez slid slightly on contact and sent her shot over the bar.
The final goal came in the 84th minute, when Winibian Peralta unleashed a long diagonal strike from the left flank that flew past both defender and goalkeeper for a spectacular finish.
Match Statistics
- Shots: 27–6
- Shots on target: 10–3
- Possession: 70%–30%
- Corners: 6–0
- Offsides: 6–2
- Fouls: Belize 15 – 10 Dominican Republic
- Cards: Yellow — Mikhaila Bowden (63’)
Group D Standings
Belize remain at the bottom of Group D with 0 points and a –14 goal difference, while the Dominican Republic and Suriname lead with 4 points each, and Haiti sit close behind with 3 points and a game in hand.
The match kicked off at 5:00 pm Belize time at Estadio Cibao, officiated by Isabel Barillas of El Salvador. The BWNT will now look to regroup ahead of their next Concacaf W Qualifiers fixture, when they host Anguilla on April 13 at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan, before closing the group away to Suriname on April 17.
Only the group winners advance to the 2026 Concacaf W Championship — the pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The post Dominican Republic defeat Belize 6–1 in Concacaf W Qualifiers appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Khalydia Velasquez scores Belize only goal. – 📸 Screenshot ESPN / Concacaf By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Belize Women’s National Team (BWNT) fell 6–1 to the Dominican Republic on Friday evening in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, in their second match of Group D in the Concacaf W Qualifiers. The hosts controlled possession, tempo,
The post Dominican Republic defeat Belize 6–1 in Concacaf W Qualifiers appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
