Girlz denied
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Jamaica’s dream of qualifying for a women’s World Cup was all but dashed as its Under-17 team suffered their second straight defeat at the CONCACAF play-offs here.
The Young Reggae Girlz, after losing their opening contest 1-4 to Canada on Thursday night, went down to Mexico 0-3 in a 10-minute second-half blitz in the first of a Group A double-header at the Morera Soto Stadium in an early afternoon contest yesterday.
Mexico and Canada have now advanced to the semi-finals with yesterday’s wins. Canada were close 2-1 victors over Panama in the second game of the double-header.
From Group B, the USA booked their spot with their second win on Friday with a 13-0 whipping of the Cayman Islands, and will be joined by hosts Costa Rica, who blanked spirited Haiti 2-0, for their second consecutive win.
Mexico had won their first game by decimating Panama 6-0.
In tomorrow’s final match of the preliminaries, the Young Girlz will take on Panama in what should be a battle for third place.
But to Jamaica’s credit, they put in a gutsy display to hold off the strong Mexicans and prevented them scoring in the first-half, but that stubborn resistance went out the window in the second 45 minutes.
Jamaica’s coach Vin Blaine was obviously disappointed at game’s end, but said the Girlz should be spared full blame as they came into the tournament under prepared.
“First of all I thought it was a very disappointing performance coming off the Canada game, they (Girlz) just didn’t play with any energy and just weren’t challenging for the ball. But in saying that, we can’t be too hard on the young ladies, as they never had proper preparation coming into this tournament; they are unfit and it showed today (yesterday),” said Blaine.
Meanwhile, Mexico got their goals courtesy of Daniela Salcedo in the 66thminute, Lucero Lara (69th) and Diana Gonzalez (75th).
For a spell when Jamaica’s confidence was up, Shenika Williams threatened the Mexico goal in the 54th minute with a promising solo manoeuvre, but as she was about to pull the trigger, goalkeeper Cecilla Santiago plunged at her feet and snuffed out the danger.
A minute before that, skipper Trudi Carter watched agonisingly as her 20-yard free-kick flew marginally over the frame.
After a spell of sustained pressure aided by a wobbly Jamaican defence, Mexico took the lead when Salcedo rammed home from just inside the area.
Mexico doubled the score three minutes later — once again helped by indecisive Jamaican defending, which effectively cleared the way for Lara to score from just inside the 18-yard box.
Jamaica’s
confidence plummeted and their rivals made it 3-0 in the 75th from an indirect freekick, expertly finished by Gonzalez.
Mexico and Canada advanced to the semi-finals. Canada were 2-1 victors over Panama in the second game.
From Group B, the USA booked their spot with their second win on Friday
with a 13-0 whipping of the Cayman
Islands, and will be joined by Costa Rica
who blanked Haiti 2-0 for their second
consecutive win.
Jamaica — Shantel Graham, Shanise Foster, Renee Freeman, Shauntae Brown, Tisha Campbell-Henry, Trudi Carter, Shenika Williams, Lotoya Duhaney, Shantel Bailey, Alika Keene (Teola Caine 77th), Adrianna Johnson (Davia Morrison 63rd). Subs not used: Chris-Ann Chambers, Shanese Bowen, Remona Hyde, Sh’nell Briscoe, Natani Tomlinson-Trail. Booked: Williams (70th), Bailey (87th). Mexico — Cecilla Santiago, Alexandra Duran, Diana Gonzalez, Christina Murillo, Claudia Ibarra, Tanya Samarzich (Maria Sanchez 54th), Daniela Salcedo (Jeanette Jiminez 45th), Alexandria Rios, Lauren Reyes, Lucero Lara (Cinthia Sandoval 81st), Cristina Ferral. Subs not used: Charlotte Garcia, Anakaren Llamas, Alejandra Guitierrez, Maria Pina. Booked: Santiago (54th). Referee: Arlene Troya (PAN) Assistant Referees: Maria Dolores (CUB), Allison Moge (CRC) Fourth Official: Erika Vargas (CRC) Match Commissioner: Julio Rocha