Trinidad and Tobago's under-17 women's footballers may be called "Soca Princesses", but they played with hearts like warriors to conquer Chile 2-1, late yesterday, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Port of Spain.

Before a crowd of 13,646, T&T pulled off a hard-fought win, despite a late hiccup. The victory is the first for any T&T team at a World Cup.

Diarra Simmons struck in the eighth minute for T&T, and Liana Hinds doubled their advantage in the 80th, but the entire team emerged as heroines for their fighting spirit. And despite their obvious disappointment at some calls by Hungarian referee Gyoengyi Gaal, they kept up their intensity over 90 minutes.

Chile's 70th minute substitute Iona Rothfeld handed them a lifeline in the 83rd with a brilliant free kick from 30 metres that got the better of T&T goalkeeper Linfah Jones. T&T, however, held on for the victory.

T&T skipper and central defender Lauren Schmidt led by example, she and right back Rose Bahadursingh proving solid at the back, letting nothing get past them. Kayla Taylor and Hinds were constant threats to Las Rojitas' defensive security, and Jo-Marie Lewis added some spark to the T&T attack when they needed it late in the match.

Women's Under-17 World Cup debutants, T&T enjoyed a dream start, Simmons' boot sending the home crowd into raptures.

From the first minute T&T pressured Chile, captain Schmidt having the honour of the first chance on goal, a header Chilean keeper Veronica Saez handled competently.

Seven more minutes of pressure would ensue before Chile finally cracked, allowing Simmons to hold off her two markers with her back to goal, turn, and pick her spot in the net.

Taylor was bright for much of the first half, she and Hinds combining to make life difficult for left back Leticia Torres, the Chilean captain.

Chile's biggest threat was forward Yanara Aedo, who threatened to outrun or outfox the T&T defenders. She lobbed over in the 29th minute from close range.

Chile's first half possession was way superior, but the more clear chances went T&T's way. T&T could have been 2-0 up at the interval, but Ryce looped over a pass from Hinds.

In the second half, play began to deteriorate, as T&T resorted to thumping the long ball forward, and Chile tried to build play coming forward. The South Americans stumbled in the final third, which is what gave T&T the advantage.

Hinds forced errors in the Chilean backline, but was twice unable to find Lewis. And Lewis was called for a foul in the 71st minute, long after she had put the ball in the net and celebrated.

But T&T kept pressing, and the insurance goal came in the 80th from Hinds, the T&T midfielder stabbing home.

Rothfeld handed T&T some nervous moments towards the end, but the Super Soca Princesses prevailed, securing full points on debut.