Young Girlz hunt historic win against Mexico
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — By his calculations and everything being equal, Jamaica coach Vin Blaine is banking on the Reggae Girlz claiming second spot in Group A of the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament and advancing to the semi-finals.
But first, the team must beat CONCACAF giant Mexico in a 1:00 pm (2:00 pm local time) showdown at the Morera Soto Stadium here in what weather forecasters expect to be a blisteringly hot day.
Coach Blaine is least concerned with the weather, but more with how his charges will approach this crucial encounter which will pretty much decide the team’s status in the quest for women’s football World Cup glory.
And even as Mexico were in awesome form by blowing away Panama 6-0 on Group A opening night, Blaine was not impressed.
“I saw Mexico tonight (Thursday) and they did not show me anything different and they had their number one team on the field,” he said.
“I still maintain that we match-up better with Mexico, as they give us more time to play, if we can finish we can get the better of Mexico and I am positive about that,” said Blaine yesterday.
And Blaine’s opposite number, Jimmy Martinez, also senses that the Jamaicans will be confident that they can upset his charges, based on their previous meeting.
Said he: “I know the Jamaicans are confident of beating us, and they have a good coach in Vin Blaine…but it will a good game and we have to play our best to be successful.”
But the experienced Blaine warned against overconfidence going up against the Mexicans, whom the Jamaicans have failed to defeat at this level.
“We have to be careful as we have never beaten them and they have always found some way to eke out a win against us,” he noted.
Still smarting from their 1-4 defeat to group favourites Canada on Thursday, the Young Girlz, however, have turned their noses Mexico’s way and the confidence of a victory this afternoon is being buoyed by last week’s competent rendition against the Central Americans in a dress rehearsal in Trinidad.
“When we played Mexico last time we totally outplayed them in every department, missed a penalty, and then conceding two goals in five minutes, and that was it,” said Blaine, explaining the unfortunate 0-2 loss.
“I think the Girlz have now realised that they can play, and as I have said Mexico will give us room to play and that could be to their detriment.”
It is argued that inherent traits like the physical build and strength of both sets of players would have levelled the playing field somewhat for a more competitive game
“Mexico will try to do what most teams do to us, and that is to spread us wide, but they are not as fit and strong, so our girls should be able to match up with them physically,” said a confident Blaine.
In mapping his path to the second round, Blaine had pinned hopes on a draw against Canada, and then victory against Mexico and Panama on Monday. But as he has found, it’s not a perfect world.
“I have it that Canada would win the group, and I was hoping that we would have at least got a draw against them, and we could, only if we were able to keep our composure in certain areas.
As it is now, the second place is between us and Mexico. If we win against Mexico, then I think we will walk away with second spot, so come Saturday (today) we have to go into that game positive,” said Blaine, as he prepares to lead his troops into battle.
Jamaica are expecting to go with the 4-4-2 formation they applied on Thursday, but could see a couple of personnel changes in an effort to consolidate the strategic plan aimed at triumph over the Mexicans.
Once fit, Blaine says live-wire midfielder Shantel Bailey will start the game, but was cautious in naming a starting 11 as a number of players are nursing knocks sustained in Thursday’s game against the robust Canadians.
But team doctor Derrick McDowell did not expect the injuries to be game-threatening, and has been executing a rigorous treatment regime to all the post-game limpers, worst of whom appeared to be defender Natani Tomlinson-Trail, who, following yesterday’s early afternoon training session at the Pipasa chicken factory playing field, was deemed unfit to play today as she is suffering from a knee injury.
The others being treated by Dr McDowell are Shanise Foster (groin), Davia Morrison (groin), Lotoya Duhaney (knee), Sh’nell Briscoe (ankle) and Tisha Campbell-Henny (knee).
Also Blaine suggested that rookie Alika Keene could be among those answering the referee’s first whistle.
“I believe though she started slowly, Alika got into her own and did a creditable job, she is a class player with a good command of the midfield,” Blaine said.
Jamaica are currently third by goal difference over Panama behind leaders Mexico and Canada.
Meanwhile, the USA and Cayman and hosts Costa Rica and Haiti were down to do battle in Group B last night.
Jamaica squad — Shauntae Brown, Teola Caine, Chris-Ann Chambers, Remona Hyde, Sh’nell Briscoe, Lotoya Duhaney, Davia Morrison, Shenika Williams, Shanese Bowen, Trudi Carter, Shantel Graham, Natani Tomlinson-Trail, Renee Freeman, Shantel Bailey, Shanise Foster, Tisha Campbell-Henny, Akila Keene and Adrianna Johnson.