Jamaica’s young Reggae Girlz gave head coach Hugh Bradford something to smile about, as they concluded their failed Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship campaign on a high with a 4-1 beating of Panama, at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday.
Natoya Atkinson (16th), Davia Richards (32nd), Maya Raghunandanan (37th) and Amelia Van Zanten (74th) were on target for the Bradford’s side, while Meredith Rosas, got Panama’s consolation in the 79th minute.
With the win, the Girlz ended Group A in third on three points scoring four goals and conceding nine, behind United States and Canada, to whom they suffered identical 0-4 defeats. Panama finished at the foot of the standing without a point.
It was a dominant performance by the Girlz, who for the first time in the tournament played with some degree of freedom and bossed possession throughout.
In fact, they were so fluent in attack, particularly in the first half, to the point where they held a high line, got significant numbers forward and camped out in Panama's quarters.
After firing a few warning shots, the Girlz inevitably broke the deadlock when Atkinson fired home from close range, after Destiny Powell’s initial effort came back off the crossbar.
Though they continued to apply consistent pressure, the Girlz had to wait until minutes past the half-hour mark to double their lead. Richards converted from the 12-yard spot, after Mireilis Rojas was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the 18-yard box on the VAR review.
Panama was not without hope, as they tried to play their game and even stringed a few good build ups together to remind the Jamaicans of their potential but couldn’t get anything on frame.
However, the Jamaicans pushed further ahead through Raghunandanan, who pounced on loose ball and lashed a one-time effort from a distance past Alejandra Garay, in goal for Panama, to make it 3-0 at the break.
Panama was never expected to overturn the deficit, but they were certainly more purposeful on the resumption with Sherline King forcing a fingertip save from Jamaica’s goalkeeper Katie Oakley in the 58th minute.
The Central Americans grew in confidence in the attacking third as the game progressed, especially as the young Reggae Girlz briefly became complacent and overconfident.
When they regained composure, the Jamaicans added a fourth courtesy of Van Zanten from the penalty spot, after the fleet-footed Shaneil Buckley was taken out by Garay inside the danger area.
But Panama responded shortly after with a 12-yard conversion of their own. Substitute Andrene Smith felled Aaliyah Gil in the 18-yard box, shortly after entering the pitch and Rosas was cool, calm and collected in firing past Oakley.
The Jamaicans could have added to their tally in the latter stages, but lacked composure in the final third, while it took some brilliance from Oakley to deny Gil, from a distance, four minutes from time.
Despite a failed bid at an historic FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup qualification, Hugh Bradford is optimistic about staying on with the national programme, as he believes he has more to offer to Jamaica’s football development.
However, at the same time, the American-based coach is also hopeful that things will be done differently to better nurture, and, by extension, prepare the country’s young talents to perform in a competitive environment.
Bradford’s comments came, as he continues to assess the young Reggae Girlz performances in consecutive 0-4 losses to regional powerhouses Canada and United States, at the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship in Dominican Republic.
The Girlz are scheduled to close out their Group A campaign against Panama at Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo on Tuesday at 2:00 pm.
“I hope to continue with the programme, but that will be up to the Jamaica Football Federation to decide. I also hope to see our country put things in place for our youngest players that will help to get them ready for this stage, both in Jamaica and abroad,” Bradford said.
“There is no doubt that we have a lot of talent. However, as a country, for us to play against the best, we have to constantly make changes to how we treat our football development to keep up with the world, but more so in Concacaf,” he added.
While disappointed that his young Reggae Girlz failed to keep the United States at bay on Sunday, Bradford lauded his team for putting in a much-improved performance, from a defensive perspective in particular, when compared to their opening defeat against Canada.
As such, the tactician is eyeing a similar of even better all-round execution against fellow strugglers Panama, as both teams, who are without a point or a goal, seek to salvage some pride from their failed campaigns.
“I am hoping the team will play another good game as they did against USA, we didn’t get on the scoresheet as we would have liked, but again, it all comes down to focus and how we prepare ourselves to take on the best,” the tactician noted.
“As a team you have to be at your best for 90+ minutes, so their fitness level matters and that is an all-year thing. But I think the ladies should be able to put in a better showing against Panama and so we look forward to what should be another good game,” said Bradford.
Both United States, the reigning seven-time champions, and Canada, on six points each, will lock horns in the Group A top-of-the-table clash, at 5:00 pm.
The winner will take on Group B runners-up Costa Rica, while the loser will have to contend with Mexico in Friday’s semi-finals.
The two finalists and third-place team will qualify for next year’s Under-20 World Cup.
A goal in each half from Natoya Atkinson Tuesday night led Jamaica’s U20 Women to a 2-0 victory over Honduras and a spot in the final round of the Concacaf U20 Championship qualifying competition.
In the keenly contested Group E top-of-the-table clash at the National Football Stadium in Nicaragua, Atkinson opened the scoring in the second-minute of play, bursting through two defenders to score.
Jamaica took the 1-0 lead into the second half aware that only a victory would see them through as Honduras entered the match with a better goal difference after both teams won their first two matches in the group.
However, the second goal would come in stoppage time when Atkinson forced her way past one Honduran defender and eluded another to score the match winner and give Jamaica three wins from three starts in the competition.
Jamaica topped Group E with the maximum nine points while Honduras remained in six following the loss.
Meanwhile, Bermuda picked up their first points of the group stage when they beat Anguilla 3-1.
Panama is also through to the final round after they demolished St Maarten 11-0 to top Group B with the maximum nine points.
Curacao, meanwhile, blanked The Bahamas 7-0 to take second place in the group.
El Salvador moved to the top of Group A after beating St Vincent and the Grenadines 10-0 while Cuba notched their first win of the competition with a 2-0 victory over Martinique.
Canada that has won their first two matches can win Group A if they beat El Salvador on Saturday.
The Canadians at + 27 have a superior goal difference to the Salvadorians, who have a goal difference of +15.
Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago secured wins in their respective Concacaf Under-20 Women’s qualifying matches on Monday.
Guyana were one of the biggest winners of the day with a 10-0 hammering of Dominica at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Jalade Trim opened the scoring for Guyana in the fifth minute before Se-hanna Mars doubled their lead nine minutes later. Mars also converted in the 16th and 18th minutes to complete a swift hat trick before adding a fourth in the 31st minute.
Mars was at it again in the 37th minute to complete a five-goal first half to hole Guyana enter halftime with a commanding 6-0 lead. Their seventh came three minutes into the second half when Heike Clarke converted from a corner kick. The 66th minute saw Mars score her sixth and Guyana’s eighth of the day before the scoring was completed by Glendy Lewis (78’) and Jalade Trim (92’).
Guyana now has six points from two games to sit second in Group C behind hosts the Dominican Republic, who defeated Suriname 3-0 and have a two-goal advantage on goal difference. The two teams will do battle on Wednesday.
Trinidad & Tobago secured a 3-2 win over Guadeloupe at the Stadion Rignaal Jean Francisca in Curacao to get their second win in as many games in Group D.
The Trinidadians took the lead in the eighth minute through a J’eleisha Alexander penalty before Laetitia Echard equalized for Guadeloupe two minutes before halftime.
T&T retook the lead in the 51st minute when Alexander converted her second penalty of the game. Alexander completed her hat trick in the 61st minute to give Trinidad & Tobago a 3-1 lead. Sergyna Loubli scored the consolation goal for Guadeloupe in the 84th minute.
Trinidad & Tobago trail Group D leaders Puerto Rico be six goals on goal difference heading into their clash on Wednesday.
Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago got their Women U20 Championship qualifiers off to winning starts on Saturday.
Six games were played in Groups C, D and F. In Group C action at the Estadio Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Guyana drubbed Suriname 6-0.
Se-Hanna Mars opened the scoring in the 24th minute before Sandra Johnson scored the first of her two goals in the 44th as Guyana took a 2-0 lead into half-time. Johnson added her second shortly after the resumption in the 47th minute.
Glendy Lewis added Guyana’s fourth in minute 55 and Samantha Banfield made it 5-0 five minutes later. Jalade Trim completed the rout in the 90th minute.
In the second match on the night the Dominican Republic clobbered Dominica 15-0 as Angelina Vargas scoring a double hat-trick, her goals coming in the sixth, 11th, 33rd 44th, 73rd and 78th minutes.
Jaylen Valecillo (7’, 21’, 63’) also had a hat trick, Ariana Diaz had a brace (14’, 37’) while Jazmyn Jackson (9’), Renata Mercedes (11’), Stella Tapia (86’) and Isabella Ventura (90’) all chipped in with scores.
The Rignaal Jean Francisca Stadium in Willemstad is serving as the site for Group D, and Trinidad and Tobago got off to a winning start in a 3-0 final against Cayman Islands. Talia Martin scored goals in the 22’ and 68’, while Nikita Jackson found the back of the net in the 66’ to give Trinidad and Tobago the three points.
Puerto Rico enjoyed a winning start in Willemstad as they topped Guadeloupe 5-0. Kenedy Garcia (12’), Enasia Colon (40’), Estefania Gonzalez (52’), Jocelyn Chinea (73’) and Fabiola Martinez (88’) supplied the goals for the Boricuas.
The Estadio Nacional in Managua was the location of the day’s games in Group F, beginning with Costa Rica’s 13-0 win over Belize.
Alexa Herrera had four goals (7’, 14’, 20’, 33’), Sheika Scott notched a hat trick (4’, 45+2’, 56’), Tanisha Fonseca contributed a brace (12’, 29’) and Jocelyn Briceno (33’), Dayra Dinarte (56’), Veronica Matarrita (71’) and Luciana Gonzalez (89’) all added scores for the Ticas.
Host nation Nicaragua took on Guatemala in the second game of the day in Managua and it ended with a 3-1 win to Nicaragua.
Aryeri Mejia (56’) and Daniela Manzanares (64’) scored for the Pinoleras in addition to an own goal (69’), while Guatemala got their score from Karen Gonzalez (19’).
All of the teams will be back in action on Monday.
In Group C in Santo Domingo, Guyana will look to make it two wins in a row versus Dominica, while the Dominican Republic will try to continue their scoring ways against Suriname.
Group D in Willemstad will see Trinidad and Tobago seek a second win against Guadeloupe, while Puerto Rico take on Cayman Islands.
Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Girlz took an early lead in Group E of the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship qualifying thanks to a dominant 6-0 win over Anguilla at the Estadio Nacional De Futbol in Nicaragua on Friday.
Jamaica were up 5-0 at halftime though goals from Davia Richards (1’), Dannique Wilson (15’), Destiny Powell (27’), Natoya Atkinson (29’) and Tiny Seaton (43’). They added one in the second half to complete the scoring.
Elsewhere in Group E, Honduras secured a comfortable 6-1 win over Bermuda at the same venue.
Group A leaders Canada were the biggest winners of the day with a mammoth 15-0 win over Martinique at Estadio Panamericano. El Salvador beat Cuba 2-1 in the day’s other Group A game.
All group winners will advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championship in The Dominican Republic from May 24-June 3.
Jamaica’s U-20 Reggae Girlz secured a spot in the knockout round of the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship after a 0-0 draw with Haiti on Wednesday.
The result meant that the team advanced from the four-team Group H in third place. In the group’s other match, a high-scoring showdown between Guatemala and Cuba, it was the Guatemalans who prevailed 3-2 to top the zone.
In a match with very few clear-cut opportunities, it was the Jamaicans who were presented with the best opportunities to score. None would have been clearer than Mia Mitchell missed chance from the penalty spot, which she skied in the 27-minute. Despite being a player light after Theanna Burnett received a second yellow card in the 41st minute, Jamaican seemed the more likely team to score but never managed to take any of the other half-chances that presented themselves.
The Jamaicans have been drawn alongside Group F second-place team Panama, with the fixture set to take place on Saturday in San Cristobal. In an all-Caribbean affair, Haiti will face Group F third-place team Guyana in Santo Domingo on the same day.
Jamaica Under-20 Reggae Girlz coach, Xavier Gilbert, insists the team’s ambition will be to win the group as they look to secure a spot in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship Round of 16, despite facing somewhat of a tricky situation.
Finding themselves third in a competitive Group H, the Jamaicans have targeted taking all three points against zone leaders Haiti when the teams meet on Wednesday.
With the top three teams advancing to the knockout stages, it is the Haitians who are top on 4 points but only by goal difference over second-place Guatemala. Guatemala will play bottom of the group Cuba in the day's other match. Ahead of the round, despite not securing their spot in the next round as yet, Gilbert backs Jamaica to move up the table.
“Looking ahead to the Haiti game, we would want to see if we can secure qualification to the next round. We also need to see if we can still win the group,” Gilbert said ahead of the match.
“Our objective is to win the game, maximise our points and see where we can go from there.”
The team will head into the match without experienced midfielder Peyton McNamara who was injured on Saturday.
Haiti and Guatemala confirmed their progression from Group B of the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship after playing out a 1-1 draw, at the San Cristobal Pan-American Stadium, in the Dominican Republic on Monday.
The Guatemalans took the lead in the 21st minute through Celsa Sandoval before Haiti got their equalizer on the stroke of halftime through Rose-Alya Marcellus. Both teams got one red card each with Lesly Hernandez being dismissed for the Guatemalans and Withmilla Alcide seeing red for the Haitians.
With three teams advancing from each group and one match left in group play, Haiti and Guatemala both have four points to be first and second, while Jamaica are third on three points. Cuba sits last in the Group without a point.
The young Reggae Girlz will now go into their last match with Haiti knowing that a win, draw or a Cuban loss to Guatemala will be enough to send them through to the round of 16 stage. Both matches will be played on Wednesday.
Suriname, The Cayman Islands, Curacao, and Bermuda all automatically advanced to the round of 16 through the qualifying tournament, while the other 12 teams to advance alongside them will be determined by group play.
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