Jamaica's senior Reggae Girlz remain in a tough position to make next year’s Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup, despite coming from behind to secure a 1-1 stalemate with Panama in their penultimate qualifying fixture at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
Marta Cox gave Panama a 31st-minute lead from the penalty spot, but that was cancelled out by Shaneil Buckley's 45th minute strike, which ensured the Jamaicans a share of the spoils.
With the point, Panama inched up to seven points and booked their spot in the inaugural women's Gold Cup, while the Jamaicans, who were earning their second point, must beat second-placed Guatemala (four points) on Sunday to get into the Gold Cup prelims.
Though disappointed that they didn't secure all three points on this occasion, interim Head coach Xavier Gilbert is backing his team to get by Guatemala on Sunday.
"It was a competitive game, unfortunately things didn't go entirely according to plan, of course we wanted to win, but we also wanted to ensure that we didn't lose tonight, that was our first objective. We are still in with a shot with just have to get the job done against Guatemala, in terms of speed and depth, we have a better unit and so I fancy our chances more against Guatemala," Gilbert said in a post-match interview.
The contest started at a decent tempo with the Jamaicans using their pace and athleticism to exploit the wide channels, as they were more threatening in open play, but were unable to make the most of their half chances.
In the ninth Melissa Johnson broke down the right channel and should have at least tested Yenith Bailey in goal for Panama, but the build-up was undone by indecision.
Nine minutes later, Buckely broke down the right and played a pass inside, and Davia Richards couldn't connect at close range.
Panama patiently played their game and went close in the 28th minute when Cox played a through pass in for Natalia Mills, but Serena Mensah, in goal for Jamaica, left her line well to avert the danger.
However, the visitors were given the opportunity to break the deadlock when Lauren Reid seemingly got ball in a challenge on Mills, but Honduran referee Melissa Borjas Pastrana awarded the penalty, which Cox converted.
The Reggae Girlz probe for the equalizer came on the stroke of half-time when a weighted cross from the left by Malikae Dayes was well finished by Buckley from close range.
Gilbert's side again started purposeful and applied consistent pressure throughout but didn't really put anything meaningful on goal.
In fact, there best effort of the stanza came in the 68th when Njeri Butts cross inside was skipped by captain Chinyelu Asher for Marlo Sweatman, whose shot lacked the power to beat Bailey.
From there, but teams nullified each other, as their search for the winner proved fruitless.
"I don't think we did anything wrong; we just didn't score. We have to score goals to win games and we just didn't get on the scoresheet when we got our chances," Gilbert said, as he also fielded questions about the substitutions.
"We are in a different dynamic from the other teams. They are playing one game and they are finished, while we are playing two games in five days. I know what I am working with, we had to be smart in terms of our approach to each game, so we couldn't be erratic and make a number of substitutions here, I also understand the situation that we are in and we are just going to give it our all on Sunday," he declared.
Interim Reggae Girlz Head Coach Xavier Gilbert is well aware of the need for his players not only maintain their focus, but also to execute efficiently and consistently for the next over 180-plus minutes, if they are to achieve the desired results in two must-win Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifying fixtures.
The first will be against a gritty Panama outfit that will be riding high on the fact that they defeated the Jamaicans 2-1 in their first meeting and, more importantly, hold pole position in Group B on six points, which means they only need a point at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
Kickoff is at 7:00pm.
For Gilbert and his Girlz, who sit at the foot of the three-team table on a point, the objective is pretty straightforward –win and they are into the group stages of next year’s Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup.
But the tactician is well aware that it is much easier said than done and, as such, is cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances of taking three points at home, before visiting second-placed Guatemala (four points) away, on Sunday.
“We had three good sessions, and things went well, one player joined us let, but apart from that, all the players have settled in well. They know what is at stake, and you can tell by the mood in the camp that they are ready to give it their best shot,” Gilbert told SportsMax.TV.
“They have responded well to our request in terms of adjustment to the system of play, which is good, so what we did, was use the final session (on Tuesday) to tighten up on a few things and areas in which believe we need to strengthen. So, I am optimistic that once they execute how we want them to, we will come out with a positive result,” he added.
Should the Reggae Girlz defeat Panama, it would mean all three teams in the group, could take the top spot, and the outcome would rely on Sunday’s clash between Guatemala and the Jamaicans.
While finishing tops is the priority, the second-placed team would also have a second shot at Gold Cup qualification, as they would enter the preliminary phase of the tournament to oppose to group winners from League’s B and C.
That means, the Girlz could draw with Panama and then beat Guatemala to book the runner-up spot. But, that is no comfort to Gilbert, who is hoping to get the job done the right way.
“The game was a couple of weeks ago. This is a different situation and different circumstances. There is some unrest in their country, I am not sure if that has affected them mentally on this occasion, but we just have to be on our A game,” Gilbert said as he reflected on their away loss to Panama.
“We have to be better than what we were in the last game, and I am sure Panama is also looking to do better, so it's going to be extremely tough for us. Obviously, we've looked at a few things that we're looking to implement as we look to impose more of our will on the game,” he noted.
Gilbert, who is still without his World Cup players due to a prolonged standoff with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), is making do with a squad that boasts more youth than experience –2019 World Cup veterans Chinyelu Asher and Marlo Sweatman being the experience.
Still, the likes of Ricshya Walker, Melissa Johnson and Zoe Vidaurre, who all scored in the last window, are very much capable of doing more damage.
Panama will turn to their core group of playmakers in Riley Tanner, Marta Cox and Lineth Cedeno to get the job done, and Gilbert is very much wary of that and is aiming to nullify the trio.
“We are still working to finalize the best 11, so far, we are close to it, but there are still some other pieces to put in place. But the overall expectation heading into the game is to make sure that we get something out of it, which is our objective, and then we will see how it goes,” Gilbert ended.
Interim Reggae Girlz Head coach Xavier Gilbert will again be without his more established players for the decisive legs of their Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifying fixtures against Panama and Guatemala on November 29 and December 3.
With the players, who achieved the historic feat of making the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup earlier this year still out, Gilbert has once again assembled a squad filled with more youth than experience where senior international caps are concerned.
In fact, Sashana “Pete” Campbell is the only experienced player called up to join fellow 2019 World Cup veterans Chinyelu Asher and Marlo Sweatman in the team.
The Girlz, who lost 1-2 away to Panama and were held to a 2-2 stalemate at home by Guatemala, are faced with a must-win situation in the League A encounters, if they are to secure an automatic berth to next year’s Women’s Gold Cup.
They currently sit at the foot of the three-team standing with a point. Panama heads the standings on six points, with Guatemala on four. Should the Girlz fail to top the standings, they would at least need to finish second to have another shot at Gold Cup qualification through a playoff contest against a League B group winner.
With that in mind, expectations were that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and the World Cup players –who withdrew their services over lack of payment and general “mistreatment” from the governing football body –would have arrived at an amicable settlement, as it is understood that several meetings were planned.
JFF’s General Secretary Dennis Chung explained that meetings were in fact planned but didn’t materialize.
“We had reached out to them and asked them to specify in writing what the details of the mistreatment they allege are, and also to advise us of two dates they want to meet and who the representatives are from their end to discuss, as per the grievance procedures under the contract, as we want to ensure that we do everything according to contract for the protection of all. We didn’t receive any feedback on proposed dates, so we proposed December 8,” Chung told SportsMax.TV.
“Someone said to us they would speak to the players about meeting earlier (Tuesday), but this was not official communication from the players and there was no confirmation from them. And there is still no response to the December 8 proposal, so we have to wait on the feedback,” he added.
However, SportsMax.TV has been reliably informed that the reason for the Girlz silence is due to the fact that they are still yet to be paid in full.
This is contrary to a JFF release on October 27 which states: “The JFF is pleased to advise that, as committed, we have now paid in full balances due to the Women’s World Cup team.”
A source close to the situation denied the claims.
“The players have not received their money and they want it to be made public,” the source shared.
But Chung rebutted.
“As far as we know we have paid all the monies due. I have heard people say that players are due money still, but no one has come to us and say what is outstanding. So, persons outside can say anything, but I have to go by the records we have. If there is money outstanding, then it should be for the players to state what is outstanding, not for people in the public to say money is outstanding. That is not something anyone can act on,” Chung argued.
“Our focus right now is on the upcoming games, while we wait on the response to the proposed date, as we of course want to understand the allegations of mistreatment so that if it is something we need to address then we ensure that it is dealt with for all our players, current and future,” he noted.
The Girlz will face Panama at the National Stadium next Wednesday, before travelling to lock horns with Guatemala a few days later.
Squad: Lauren Reid, Malikae Dayes, Zoe Vidaurre, Chinyelu Asher, Israela Groves, Ricshya Walker, Marlo Sweatman, Davia Richards, Mikayla Dayes, Shaneil Buckley, Melissa Johnson, Aliyah Morgan, Theanna Burnett, Serena Mensa, Shanice Foster, Destiny Powell, Njeri Butts, Sashana Campbell, Shania Harris, Sydnie Street, Javanae Jones, Lachante Paul, Maliah Atkins.
Reigning daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College remain on course to secure a coveted treble, as they came from behind to down a gritty St George’s College 3-1 in a pulsating ISSA Champions Cup quarterfinal encounter at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
Justin Hayles (12th), Keheim Dixon (84th) and Tedane Williams (90+5), got the job done for Clarendon College after Jindu Powell gave St George’s College an eighth-minute lead.
Clarendon College will square off against Hydel High in one semi-final encounter, while Kingston College and Glenmuir will lock horns in the other. Kingston College earlier edged Dinthill Technical 3-2, while Glenmuir and Hydel were 1-0 and 4-2 winners over Mona High and Garvey Maceo respectively.
Both teams started spiritedly with St George’s College getting off the first warning shot and Clarendon College responded soon after. In fact, Clarendon College should have gone ahead at that point, but Deandrae Gallimore his effort High and wide from deep inside the 18-yard box.
Given the tempo at which both teams started, it was almost clear that the small turnout inside the grandstand would not have to wait long for the go-ahead goal, and it fell to St George’s College in fine style.
After Zabir Taylor was taken down to the left of the 18-yard box, Malique Lorraine delivered a delicate chip from the set-play and Powell rose above defenders to head home.
But Clarendon College pulled level four minutes later when Hayles finished off a rebound from Dixon's long-range effort that was blocked by Jaedon Thompson, in goal for St George’s College.
From there, both teams cancelled out each other in the middle of the park, as they failed to create any meaningful chances at that point.
It wasn't until the backend of the half that Clarendon College once again surged forward and Christopher Hull should I put them ahead, but instead hit his right-footed effort over the crossbar from just inside the 18-yard box, as the score remained 1-1 at the break.
The second half started just like the first with St George’s College again on the front foot, as they enjoyed a good passage of play, and breached Clarendon College's defence a few times but failed to capitalise.
Their first fell in the 65th to Adrian Reid, who got on the end of Taylor's cross but his right-footer at the fat post was charged down by two defenders.
Reid was at it again 11 minutes later with his shot from a distance by parried by Roshae Burrell, in goal for Clarendon College, on that occasion.
After absorbing consistent pressure, Clarendon College regained the ascendancy when Dixon followed up and finished off a rebound when Daniel Clarke’s shot from a distance was blocked by Thompson.
And with St George’s College pushing high in their bid for the equalizer, the Chapelton-based team helped themselves to another on a well-worked counterattack orchestrated by Dixon and ended with Williams tucking away from close range, seconds before the final whistle.
Winning coach Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde was delighted with the outcome.
"It was just a match up where the better team would win on the day. It was exciting and both teams put out there all and I must lift my hats to St George’s College for a hard-fought game. I told my players to be relentless and I must lift my hats to them as well, they did well and we just hope we can continue playing this brand of football and hopefully win one of these trophies,” Hyde said.
His counterpart Neville “Bertis” Bell took heart from his team’s display, as he conceded that they were beaten by a quality opponent.
"I give thanks because I thought it was a wonderful schoolboy football game. Clarendon College is a quality team and I thought we matched them well and I am proud of these guys. I don't think anyone thought we would be here at this stage of the competition, but we are here, and we have shown that we deserve to be here. We got beaten by a good team and I can live with that,” Bell noted.
Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz Head Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson rued his team’s missed opportunities along with a lapse in concentration that proved their undoing, as they will have to overturn a one-goal deficit if they intend to progress to the Concacaf Nations League semi-final, as well as next year's Copa America, after they went down 1-2 to Canada in their opening quarter-final leg at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Jonathan David sent Canada in front in the 45+1, before Shamar Nicholson added to his rich Nations League scoring form, with a 56th-minute strike. However, poor defending by the Jamaicans allowed Stephen Eustaquio (86th) to notch the decisive goal and put Canada in the driver's seat heading into Tuesday's second leg at the BMO Field in Toronto.
"It was really hot, so the tempo understandably wasn't high. In a game like this it's about keeping focus, they lost focus, and we didn't punish them, and we lost focus, and they punished us. At this level when you don't take your chances you get hurt and that was the end result," Hallgrimsson said in a post-game interview.
Jamaica started the contest, which was pushed back from Friday due to inclement weather, spiritedly in bright sunny conditions, as they showed some degree of enterprise in the early exchanges and should have opened the scoring in 15th minute. This, as Leon Bailey breached Canada's defence, but dragged his left-footed effort wide of the target in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Milan Borjan.
Canada also had an early opportunity of their own through David, whose effort was kept out by Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake in goal.
The Canadians continued their probe and almost broke the deadlock in the 32nd, as Cyle Larin was allowed time and space to release a right-footer from outside the 18-yard box, but Blake again proved equal to the task.
Canada used the channels well for the service and had a few more half chances but were still unable to break Jamaica's resistance.
Bailey should have put the Jamaicans in front in the 40th when he arrived at the far post to meet Bobby Reid's weighted corner, but the effort slammed into the left upright.
The Jamaicans later paid for that missed opportunity, as Larin turned his marker and played a pass inside for David to tap in.
Canada should have added another in stoppage time, when David produced a tidy run down left channel and found Larin, who had enough time and space to pick a spot from dead centre of the 18-yard box but steered right-footer wide.
The North Americans picked up where they left off on the resumption and almost doubled the lead four minutes in, but David's well-struck effort from almost 20-yards out was parried by Blake.
Jamaica came into their own and pulled level when a quickly taken freekick from Reid sent Nicholson in behind Canada's defence and the towering striker made no mistakes with a firmly struck effort. Though initially flagged offside, the goal stood via the VAR review.
From there, the contest remained evenly poised and could have gone either way in the latter stages, but it was Canada, who inevitably found the winner.
Richie Laryea’s dashing run down the right channel dragged Jamaica’s defence and opened up space for Eustaquio to sweep home the perfect cut-back pass from deep inside the 18-yard box.
Last season’s beaten finalists Kingston College will kick start their ISSA Champions Cup campaign against Dinthill Technical in the first game of a double-header at the National Stadium on Saturday.
With last year's champions Jamaica College failing to make the cut, the all-island knockout tournament title is up for grabs, and it is left to be seen if it will remain in the urban area, or if a rural area team will be crowned this year.
Both Kingston College and Dinthill, booked their passaged to the all-island knockout tournament after securing semi-final berths in the Digicel-sponsored Manning Cup and Wata-sponsored daCosta Cup respectively.
The two are set to meet at 3:00pm, before reigning daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College cross swords with St George’s College at 5:00pm.
Details of the first round was revealed during a draw at the national Stadium on Tuesday.
Aside from the two games in Kingston, two other games will take place at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex in Santa Cruz.
There, Hydel High will face Garvey Maceo High in the first game of a double-header, while Mona High takes on Glenmuir High in the second match. Those games are scheduled for 2:00pm and 4:15pm respectively.
The winners will advance to the semi-finals, set for next week Wednesday at the National Stadium.
Former Wolmer’s Boyz and UWI goalkeeper, Amal Knight, is happy to rejoin the Reggae Boyz set up ahead of a crucial Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal tie against Canada.
Before appearing on the bench for a recent friendly against Guatemala, Knight was last called up to the squad for a Nations League fixture back in March where he watched from the bench as the teams played out a 2-2 draw.
“It feels good. It’s been probably seven or eight months since I’ve been called up so it feels really good. I’m happy to be here and a part of the squad again,” Knight said in a JFF Live interview on Monday.
The 29-year-old is currently playing for Lexington SC in USL League One and spoke glowingly of his time there so far.
“It has been wonderful. I really enjoyed the season that just ended recently. I look forward to going back in January for pre-season and hopefully I can put in some positive results like last season,” he said.
“In Lexington, the people are really friendly and they warmed up to me a lot. I have a lot of support there. There were rumors probably of me leaving but it seems like I’ll be going back so the fans are happy. There’s a new coaching staff coming in and everyone is looking forward to seeing me back soon,” Knight added.
Knight says in his time away from the squad, he liked what he saw from the Boyz in the group stage of the Nations League where they finished top of Group B with 10 points from four games to advance to the quarters.
“I think we’ve done tremendously well. We’ve progressed really nicely on the table too so it’s just for the guys to keep going,” he said.
They will now take on Canada in the quarter-finals of with the first leg set for Friday at the National Stadium and the second set for next week Tuesday at the BMO Field.
The winners will advance to the Nations League semi-finals as well as the 2024 Copa America in the USA.
“It’s a very important tie against Canada with berths in the Copa America and semi-finals of the Nations League at stake. These are two very important games so hopefully we can take both of them and qualify for both,” Knight said.
Interim Reggae Girlz Head coach Xavier Gilbert is hoping his makeshift team can bounce back quickly to not only take three points off Guatemala, but more importantly, put themselves in a much better position to top the qualifying group on their way to next year’s Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup.
The Girlz, who went down 1-2 away to Panama, are currently at the foot of the three-team Group B in League A of the qualifiers, but a win against Guatemala at the National Stadium on Sunday, would see them back in contention for the coveted top spot.
This, as Panama currently lead with six points from three games, followed by Guatemala with three points from two games, while the Girlz will be contesting their second fixture to be followed by the return leg encounters on November 29 and December 3 respectively.
Sunday’s game is scheduled for 5:00pm.
“I think the ladies can bounce back, but it is going to be a tough encounter similar to what we experienced against Panama. I think the ladies are in a much better place after getting the first game out of the way and we managed to get an extra session in with everybody so that was good,” Gilbert told SportsMax.TV.
“The spirits are high, so we just have to come out and execute. As I said before, it is going to be tough, and we are mindful that they (Guatemala) beat Panama before Panama defeated them. We know that they like to shoot from different areas, and I think offensively they are strong, so we just have to nullify their strengths,” he added.
Reflecting on the first game, Gilbert was encouraged by his team’s display for the most part, given the fact that they were pulled together only a few days prior to that game.
In fact, had it not been for an own-goal and a defensive error by Alika Keene in either half of the contest, Gilbert’s makeshift side would have pulled off a highly unexpected win.
“When you look back at the first game against Panama, they really didn’t break us down to score and unfortunately, we didn’t come away with anything because of the own-goal and defensive error. But we have Marlo Sweatman coming in for this game and with her experience in the middle of the park, I think we should give a much better performance on this occasion,” the tactician noted.
Marlo Sweatman, who didn’t make the trip to Panama, joined the team’s training session on Friday. She along with fellow 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup veteran Chinyelu Asher, are expected to do most of the work in the midfield, both from an attacking and defensive perspective.
Sweatman, 28, who currently plays professionally in Hungary, is eager to ply her part in the makeshift Girlz resurgence.
"I am very happy to be here. I have been playing attacking midfield and scoring a lot of goals, and I feel like I am in good form,” she said.
“This is a very young team, and so I will bring in a lot of experience and some leadership, especially in the midfield, as well as off the field, to help them grow as players and as people off the field as well,” Sweatman shared.
Carissa Robinson led the way with a double-double as the Lady Eagles secured a seven-point win over the Lady Panthers in Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) action at the National Stadium on Thursday.
A tense first quarter saw the Eagles close with a narrow 8-6 lead before each team seemed to get more comfortable in the second. The Eagles took that one 12-9 to lead 20-15 at halftime.
An 11-11 tie in the third quarter set up an exciting finish with the eagles taking the final stanza 9-7 to secure a 40-33 victory.
Robinson led all scorers with 17 points and an impressive 17 rebounds while also dishing out six assists. Jovianne Donaldson had eight points, three rebounds and four steals while Asia Williams had seven points and eight rebounds.
Tissia Parker had nine points for the Panthers while Sasha Dixon had eight points, 17 rebounds, four blocks, seven steals and six assists.
The UWI Runnin Rebels secured a blowout win over the Rae Town Raptors in 2023 National Basketball League action at the National Stadium on Thursday.
The Rebels won the first quarter 14-8 before the Raptors turned things around with a 14-8 second quarter of their own to leave the teams tied at 22 going into halftime.
A strong third quarter for the Rebels, however, meant they led 39-30 going into the final quarter. Their dominance continued, winning the fourth 19-7 to complete a 59-37 victory.
Matthew McGowan led the way for the Rebels with 18 points and seven rebounds while also adding three steals and two assists. Omari Greene provided good support with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Jacquaine Freeman had 14 points.
Tijonny Forbes had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors.
Action will continue on Saturday with the Raptors facing the Falmouth Saints before the Upper Room Eagles take on the Central Celtics.
Jamaica's Dunbeholden ended their 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup campaign on a high note with a 2-1 victory against Cibao FC of the Dominican Republic in Group B action at the National Stadium on Thursday.
The result saw Dunbeholden FC complete their failed campaign with four points from their four games, while Cibao FC are eliminated from advancing with one match to play. It also ensured another Jamaican side Harbour View, a spot in the semifinals.
The first big chance came right before the half-hour mark in the 29th, when Dunbeholden’s Nicholas Nelson did well to evade a pair of defenders and round Cibao goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd but hooked his shot wide with two defenders stationed on the goal line.
Dunbeholden stayed on the front foot and Nelson looked almost certain to break the deadlock in the 41st, when alone one-on-one with Lloyd, but the veteran goalkeeper made the big-time save to keep things scoreless.
At the third time of asking in the first half, Dunbeholden broke the deadlock in the waning seconds before halftime when Nelson outraced a defender and played a simple ball across to Shakeen Powell, who had an easy sweep into net for a 1-0 lead.
Cibao woke up in the second half and pulled even 1-1 in the 55th on a sensational left-footed volley from Facundo Guichon off an inch-perfect cross from Lean Torres.
But Dunbeholden answered right back and went back ahead 2-1 in the 63rd, when Rohan Brown nodded home a header at the back post.
From there, the Dunbeholden defense did the rest to keep the Cibao attack at bay and nail down the three points.
Jamaica...0
Canada...2
Prince (18th), Leon (90+2)
Jamaica's senior Reggae Girlz dreams of an historic Olympic Games qualification is all but up in smoke, as they suffered a 0-2 defeat to Canada in their first-leg playoff encounter at the National Stadium on Friday.
Goals from Nichelle Prince in the 18th and the menacing Adriana Leon in the 90+2 minutes was enough to lift the Bev Priestman-coached reigning Olympic champions to a crucial advantage heading into Tuesday's second leg which will be played before a sold-out crowd at BMO Field in Toronto.
For Lorne Donaldson and his Girlz it will be a case of pulling off the improbable win in a hostile environment, if they are to progress.
The Girlz started out fairly disciplined, as they were quick on the ball and did well to contain Canada in the early exchanges.
In fact, the Girlz looked more threatening in opening play, but their first real chance in the final third came from Deneisha Blackwood’s teasing 10th-minute free kick, which had to be mopped up by the Canadian defenders.
Such was the Girlz discipline when they gradually gained the ascendancy that Canada was hardly allowed to play their usual fluent passing game to get into the final third.
Instead, they were on the back foot and almost found themselves a goal down in the 14th minute. This, as Jody Brown was sent on the break by Atlanta Primus, but the diminutive forward’s shot was charged down by a defender.
All the Reggae Girlz hard work was undone in the 18th when poor positioning by Blackwood allowed Ashley Lawrence to slip further down the right channel and deliver a weighted cross, which was expertly headed in by Prince, giving Rebecca Spencer no chance at a save.
Still, the Girlz fought on and again went close in the 29th courtesy of Brown, who orchestrated a tidy build up and picked out Cheyna Matthews on the left, but the run amounted to nothing.
Matthews again went on the break five minutes later, as she shook her defender and should have initially struck a left footer, but was hesitant in doing so. When she belatedly got a shot off her favoured right foot, her marker had already recovered and averted the danger.
Though the score remained unchanged at half-time, the Jamaicans seemingly failed to recover from the manner in which they ended the first half. A defensive lapse immediately on the resumption allowed Leon through on goal and it took a tidy save from Spencer to deny her.
Canada again went close from the resulting corner with Prince's effort from the top of the 18-yard box rattling the crossbar.
By virtue of pushing a high line in their probe for the equalizer, the Girlz absorbed some amount of pressure from Canada's break, as Leon got by Konya Plummer a couple of times but found Spencer in her way.
The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper did her utmost best to keep the Girlz in the game as she was again called upon when Cloe Lacasse got away down the left channel in the 64th and struck a left-footed effort which Spencer had to parry at her near post.
The Girlz had their best chance of the second half a minute later when substitute Tiffany Cameron’s shot from a rebound went just over the crossbar, after Khadija “Bunny” Shaw's initial effort was thwarted by Vanessa Gilles.
But just when the moderate turnout in the stadium may have harboured a glimmer of hope that the Girlz would pull one back, Leon broke their hearts with a cheeky finish at Spencer’s near post from a Julia Grosso cross to put Canada 2-0 up.
Despite being down, the Jamaicans continued the push to at least reduce the deficit, but when Plummer fired a tame left-footed effort straight at Canada’s goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, deep inside added time, it all but summed up their lukewarm evening.
Teams: Jamaica -Rebecca Spencer, Allyson Swaby, Konya Plummer, Tiernny Wiltshire, Deneisha Blackwood, Vyan Sampson, Drew Spence, Jody Brown (Solai Washington 55th), Atlanta Primus (Kayla McKenna 71st), Cheyna Matthews (Tiffany Cameron 55th), Khadija Shaw
Subs not used: Sydney Schneider, Liya Brooks, Sashana Campbell, Chantelle Swaby, Kameron Simmonds, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Trudi Carter, Shaneil Buckley, Paige Bailey-Gayle
Booked: None
Canada -Kailen Sheridan, Sydney Collins, Kadeisha Buchanan, Rebecca Quinn, Ashley Lawrence (Gabby Carle 82nd), Vanessa Gilles, Nichelle Prince (Jordyn Huitema 64th), Jessie Fleming (Julia Grosso 79th), Adriana Leon, Cloe Lacasse, Jade Rose (Shelina Zadorsky 79th)
Subs not used: Lysianne Proulx, Sabrina D'Angelo, Olivia Smith, Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Evelyne Viens, Christine Sinclair, Simi Awujo, Bianca St-Georges
Booked: Gillies (54th), Grosso (90+5)
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)
Assistant referees: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA); Felisha Mariscal (USA)
Fourth official: Natalie Simon (USA)
Match Commissary: Techell McLean (SKN)
After switching allegiance from Canada to Jamaica, Tiffany Cameron will play against her birth country in one of the most important fixtures of her career.
Cameron, who earns her Jamaican stripes through her parents Yvonne Brown and Donovan Cameron, represented Canada at the Under-17 level and then played six friendly contests with the senior team, before making a switch from the Canucks to the Reggae Girlz in 2019.
While it is not her first time playing against Canada since her switch, the significance of this two-leg Olympic qualifying playoff, is such that Cameron’s sentimental attachment to her birth country and former team, is almost non-existent.
In fact, Cameron is buzzing with excitement ahead of the opening fixture scheduled for later this evening inside the National Stadium at 7:00pm, and moreso about her return to the BMO Field in Toronto where the second-leg will be contested before a sold-out crowd on September 26.
“The last senior international cap I had with Canada was on June 2, 2013, against United States at BMO. We lost that game 0-3 and I haven’t played on the BMO Field since. So, it will be extra special for me to go back there now representing Jamaica,” Cameron told Sportsmax.tv.
“Situations like these don’t happen often, so I’m excited. I’m ready to give my best and I think it will be a competitive match,” she added.
The two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup representative, who has enjoyed a decorated career spanning 14 years to date, recently inked a deal with Liga F outfit, Real Betis, where she hopes to again put her versatility on display, much like she did with the Reggae Girlz at the global showpiece in Australia.
Simply put, Cameron, though at age 31, is still very much in her prime and has a real hard desire to work hard and improve her craft, especially now in a country where she enjoys their brand of football.
“I think it (Real Betis) is a great fit for me because I enjoy combinational play and playing with players that express themselves and make football an enjoyable sport to watch. Playing in Spain will improve my decision making overall, as the speed of play in Spain is ranked one of the highest in the world. I have settled in well so far and I am very much looking forward to my time with the club,” she shared.
But, for now, Cameron is solely focused on assisting her Reggae Girlz team in their bid to once again rewrite the history books by being the first Caribbean team to qualify for women’s football at the Olympic Games.
The Reggae Girlz, are coming off a confident run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, where they finished second in Group F, holding top 10-ranked teams France and Brazil to goalless stalemates, complemented by a 1-0 victory over Panama, before losing 0-1 to Colombia in the Round of 16.
It was the first time since 1938 that a Caribbean team –male or female –contested the knockout stages at the global showpiece and the Girlz have a chance to build on that momentum.
“We are all proud of what we were able to accomplish at the World Cup and I think those accomplishments have given us a boost in confidence going into these games against Canada. We want to continue to make Jamaica proud and will give our best,” Cameron declared.
“We know what’s at stake in these games, so we will go into these games with a similar mentality as the World Cup. The opportunity to continue to make history is a blessing within itself and we won’t be taking that for granted,” she noted.
A win and a draw against 10th-ranked Canadians would be good enough to not only book the 37th-ranked Jamaicans one of 12 spots at next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, but also a spot in the group stages of the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup, alongside United States.
Both Jamaica and Canada are in this position after placing second and third at last year’s Concacaf Women’s Championships in Mexico. United States, by virtue of topping the tournament, earned automatic qualification to both the Olympic Games and the Gold Cup.
Like many of her teammates, Cameron knows all too well that another history-making feat would add further impetus to not only their status, but to women’s football in the Caribbean on a whole.
“It would mean a lot to us to be able to make history and be the first Caribbean team to qualify for women's football at the Olympics. The more successful we are, the more hope we will give to the younger generation in the Caribbean,” Cameron ended.
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