Jamaica entered their semifinal against Cuba in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under 20 football competition knowing that a win would guarantee them a spot in the final round of the CONCACAF stages, a privilege afforded to both finalists in the CFU round.
Jamaica entered their semifinal against Cuba in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under 20 football competition knowing that a win would guarantee them a spot in the final round of the CONCACAF stages, a privilege afforded to both finalists in the CFU round.
The Young Reggae Girls settled quickly against a Cuban team willing to play open football, unlike their last two opponents.
Local based stand-out Khadija Shaw gave the Jamaicans the lead when she headed home an 18th minute corner to the delight of the fans packed into the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Ten minutes later, mercurial forward Kayla Gray doubled the home team’s lead as Jamaica solidified their hold on the match.
Chris-Ann Chambers, who had very little to do in the first half, pulled off a good save, diving to her left and parrying while backing up. Defender Imani Richards who received a blow to the head had to be substituted in the 41st minute and was replaced by Ceann Marks.
Crowd favourite, Jessica Johnson hit the upright two minutes before the break as Jamaica held a comfortable 2-0 at the interval.
Jamaica came out with all guns blazing in the second half determined to kill off the game and created numerous chances before Oshay Lawes put her name on the score sheet. The striker received a pass on the edge of the box and beautifully turned her marker before driving powerfully into the far corner to make it 3-0 to Jamaica in the 64th minute.
Yoanna Calderon Gonzanez, who has been Cuba’s stand out player during the tournament was working hard for her team and was rewarded for her efforts when Chambers misplaced a pass and gifted the striker an opportunity which she gladly accepted, rolling the ball into an empty net to reduce the deficit to 3-1 in the 69th minute.
Eliane Romero Acosta had a wonderful chance to cut the deficit even further when Chambers, clearly agitated by her earlier gaffe, played a ball straight down the middle for the midfielder to run unto. The entire Cuban team watched on in agony as the shot rebounded off the cross bar and into play.
Chambers was more than happy to grab onto the ball and thank her lucky stars.
The game was ended as a contest in the 78th minute, when Gray grabbed her second of the match and Jamaica’s fourth when she fired home from inside the area after a delightful move by Jonson down the left hand side.
Chambers did get a chance to redeem herself when she blocked at the edge of the area when in a one-on-one with Gonzanez.
Gray put icing on the cake as she capped off a fine personal and team performance, robbing a defender of the ball before dribbling into the box and coolly finishing past Monica Padilla to claim her second hat-trick of the tournament and make the final score 5-1 to Jamaica.
Speaking with Yardie Sports after the game, Jamaica head coach Xavier Gilbert was an understandably happy man, “We met our primary objective today, which was to advance to the CONCACAF round. I still think we need to move the ball quicker and we will need to be more compact against Trinidad and Tobago in the final come Sunday.”
“I would have preferred if we hadn’t conceded today but to get 5 goals against a quality team like Cuba is excellent.”
“We have a few injury concerns going into the final but we want to win so we will be putting a team out there to try to do just that, bearing in mind that the Under -17 tournament starts in a few days and a number of the players will be called upon to play in that competition as well,” he stated.
In the first game of the day, Trinidad and Tobago got the better of the Dominican Republic 2-1 with goals from Patrice Campbell 30th and Kadisha Detseseter 81st coming either side of the 44th minute strike of Yaqueisi Sorano, to set up a final against Jamaica on Sunday October 27.
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