Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw scored twice as Jamaica got four goals in the space of twenty second half minutes to beat arch rivals Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 on Friday night in the Concacaf Caribbean Women’s World Cup qualification.
The prolific Kayla Taylor open her account for Trinidad and Tobago after capaitalizing on a poor clearance from goalkeeper Sydney Schneider.Giselle Washington, who came in as a second half substitute, scored in the 70th minute to restore parity for Jamaica.
Shaw’s first goal came on the 79th minute mark to put the ‘Reggae Girls’ up 2-1. She added another goal shortly thereafter with a thumping left footer which swizzled past the Trinidadian custodian Kimika Forbes to make it 3-1. Jody Brown who started the game on the bench sent pockets of supporters into a frenzy after a neat finish to kill off the contest 4-1 in time added on.
Trindad and Tobago got a hammer blow early in the first half after captain and influential player Tasha St.Louis was ushered off injured. Jamaica deploying an attacking 4-3-3 formation enjoyed 71% possession. Trinidad on the other hand was content as they sat back with a defensive 4-4-2 formation and waited patiently to hit the ‘Reggae Girls’ on the counter.
They got their reward in the 10th minute after Schneider failed to clear a back pass from captain Konya Plummer. The ball fell kindly to the speedy Taylor who then shrugged off her defender before pulling a peach out of her deep repertoire from 25 yards for a 1-0 lead.
The ‘Reggae Girls’ continued to stroke the ball around the park nicely while being cheered on by the fans in a sparse stadium. They came close on minute 17 whenLauren Silver whipped a teasing cross in the box to Shaw who took it down expertly and beat the advancing goalkeeper but her touch took her away from goal. That gave the defenders enough time to reorganize and to nullify the attacking threat. Two minutes later an unmarked Deneisha Blackwood was at the end of a Marlo Sweatman free kick but her tame shot was handled comfortably by Forbes.
Trinidad erected a Berlin-like wall that prevented the Jamaicans from scoring despite their numerous attack. As such, Trinidad was unable to mount any meaningful attack.
On the stroke of halftime, Shaw held up the play for “twinkle toes” Trudi Cater to arrive, Shaw played an intelligent through ball for her teammate but the low pile driver went agonizingly wide. The half ended with the host trailing 0-1 at the ‘office’.
Coach Hue Menzies brought Washington into the game and it immediately paid dividends when she turned home a ball the Trinidadian failed to clear from a well taken Sweatman corner kick to level up things.
Plummer and Swaby hounded Taylor closely as the Trinidadian look to utilize her pace with the long ball.
In minute 79, the powerful Shaw collected a well weighted pass from Carter inside her own half and made a darting run towards her opponents goal like a mad Mexican bull leaving a trail of defenders in her wake. With only the goalkeeper at her mercy she dropped her shoulders to the left then moved the ball to the right to bomboozle the keeper. She then stroked the ball into an empty net from an acute angle.
Ten minutes later Shaw completed her brace after seizing the opportunity presented to her from a poor defensive clearance by the goalkeeper. With all eyes on goal she hit a thunderbolt that almost severed Forbes hands.
Second half substitute Jody Brown rubbed further salt in the Trinidadians wound after collecting a sublime pass from Shaw, she waltz around an advancing keeper then slot home in an empty net to make it 4-1.
The Jamaicans have now advanced to the final round in the USA in October. They will however seek revenge over Cuba in their final game today at the National Stadium at 6pm. While Trinidad will play Bermuda in their final game at 3pm.
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