By Dwight Fraser on assignment in Trinidad
Jamaica’s Under 20 Reggae Girls were eliminated from the Concacaf Under 20 Women’s Championship in Trinidad on Sunday night, after they were edged 2-1 by the United States in a must win game for the Jamaicans.
Needing a win to keep hopes of reaching their first FIFA Women’s World Cup Alive the Jamaicans who suffered a 4-nil loss to Mexico, began with not only a sense of purpose, but good running on an off the ball. With snappy one two passes through midfield, the Reggae girls gained a slight advantage after 5 minutes.
Showing great speed early, forward Marlee Fray made a neat pass to the advancing Jody Brown on the right wing, and when Brown made a clean square in the USA’s 18 yard box , Mirea Gray picked it up, but it was hurriedly cleared by the United States defense, as the Jamaicans signaled their intentions early.
USA’s best effort came in the 14th minute when Kesley Turnbow took a rasping shot just above the 18 yard box, which was pushed over the bar by the Jamaican custodian Sydney Schneider .
The Americans then applied the pressure with the Jamaican defense kept busy for the next ten minutes, resulting in three corners in succession for the stars and stripes during that time span, all of which was negotiated carefully by the Jamaican gridlock.
Close to the half an hour mark the Americans committed a second cardable offense when Briana Pinto roughed up and dragged the shirt of the advancing Mariyea Gray, instead the Canadian referee Carlod Anne Chenard gave the Jamaicans a free kick in their own half.
Two minutes later, Midfielder Giselle Washington after breaking free out of a clogged midfield, found striker Jody Brown who picked up the ball wide on the right flank and dribbled in the USA’s 18 yard box, beating one defender but lost it inside the six yard box when it was cleared by defender Zoe Morse.
With time running out and the Americans frustrated, but still pressing they won a free kick about 22 yards near the Jamaican goal, and with six yellow shirts in the wall, the dangerous Sophie Smith took a powerful shot in the 42nd minute that sailed around the wall and beat an oustrrecthed Jamaican Goal keeper Schneider to put the US ahead 1-nil.
On the very next play Jamaica caught USA napping and on the counter, Merlee Fray found opened space and dribbled inside the six yard box but the US Goal keeper Amanda Mcglynn and her defender Isabel Rodriquez quickly closed her down. As the first half ended with the score unchanged.
In the second half a different Jamaica team emerged from the dressing room, showing grater synchronicity when compared to the first game against Mexico.
In the second half USA tried desperately to penetrate with good passes coming in from both flanks, but each attempt after the other was nullified, including a powerful clearance from Gabriell ‘bubbler ‘ Gayle that sent the ball into the stands.
Ebony Clarke was then pulled and Aloufasalde Adamolekun inserted in the midfield, which then change the complexion of the game, as by then Jamaica was showing greater intention in coming forward.
However the defending Champions were staging their own fight back, as the Jamaican custodian was again brought into action, after taking the sting out of a shot fired at point black range from US captain, Demelo Savannah in the 56th minute.
On a break away from a pass from Gayle, Adamolekun picked up a pass from Gayle approximately 40 yards out, dribbled goal wards and fired a shot that was taken down by the US keeper.
Still pressing Adamolekun again on a break -way, unleashed from the top of the 18 yard box and with the ball sailing towards goal the US custodian tipped it on the underside of the bar which ricocheted and landed on the feet of Gray who passed inside to Jazmine Grant for a clear goal to put Jamaica on the scoresheet at one all, but she dragged it wide, the USA escaping by the skin of their teeth.
Seeking fresh legs up front the Jamaicans coaching staff made their second change of the game, as Jazmine Grant came in for Marlee Fray, and the USA found themselves fighting to stave off a Jamaican onslaught. In came Grant again this time she was left unmarked and stabbed it at goal and the us goal keeper was just in time to gather it under her grasp.
Looking dangerous all the time Grant in a dribble goal -wards was brought down in the American box, and the appeal for penalty was quickly waived off by the Referee .
Shortly after Brown got by two players in quick succession, but in beating a third she was brought down. Then Adamolekun got a cross to land in the crowded US box, and the encroaching Jazmin Grant fired home from a scramble to make it one all in the 88th minute.
However, before the celebrations died down USA hit back in the very next minute, when an unmarked Jaelin Howell scored from a cross in the 89th minute.
A late change saw Shayla Smart coming in from the outgoing Maria Gray in 88th minute but by then it was virtually over.
With three minutes of time added on,time elapsed before Jamaica could get back on the shoresheet and it ended 2-1 in favour of the Americans.
The Americans advanced to the semi-final joining Mexico from the group, while Jamaica must now play for pride in their final game on Tuesday against Nicaragua.