Jamaica Under 20 Reggae Girls crashed to a 4-nil loss to Mexico in their opening game of the Concacaf Under 20 Women’s Championship on Friday in Couva, Trinidad.
Both teams looked even in the early stages, but after 15 minutes the Mexicans began dictating the pace, with two early corners to which the Jamaicans were able to defend against, the second of which was a glancing header by Andrea Hernandez which was rather too tame to threaten the Jamaican Goal Keeper Syndey Schneider. Nonetheless it was the signal of what was to come from the Mexicans.
Three minutes later as Mexican up the tempo, striker Mericarmen Reyes made the boldest attempt at the Jamaican goal, with a shot on the volley just outside Jamaica’s 18 yard box ,which was fired at point black range, but again the Jamaican custodian was able to take the sting out of it.
With the action being contested in Jamaica’s half Mexico went ahead near the half and hour mark when the striker #11 Jaqueline Ovalle converted just inside the box after a goal mouth scramble. One nil Mexico after 26 minutes.
The Jamaicans got a small buildup of their own when Emily Caza , Jasmine Grant and Aloufasalade Adamalouken broke free , a through pass to Adamalouken found her with enough space to dribble on the right flank and looking threatening too, but she slipped and lost her footing and subsequently lost possession of the football. The Mexicans recovered the loose ball and hit Jamaica on the counter. The ball was then played wide to a Mexican winger who swung inside and it landed sweetly on the head of the encroaching Katty Martinez who headed straight pass Schneider to make it two nil.
The Jamaican goal keeper had the best shut out of the game, when Ovalle seeking to make it three nil for Mexico was denied a goal in the 41st minute, as after firing a ferocious shot it was expertly punched away by Schneider by as high-flying Schneider just in time.
Seeking to get back on the scoresheet Jamaica’s build up through Caza and Grant, seem ominous, but it was Grant who found herself alone to shoot at the top of the box, but was stopped in her tracks by the Mexican defense.
In the second half, Grant was substituted with the Former Ocho Rios high striker Jody Brown coming in, and with Jamaican playing tighter in defense it did little to slow the advances of the Mexican.
With one way traffic still in effect and Mexico bossing possession, the gate swung open for their third goal, as from a goal mouth melee Chyanne Dennis in a hurried clearance fired into the roof of her own net, resulting in an own goal in minute 55.
With time running out Mexico then made two quick substitutions about the hour mark and not long after Jamaica sprung to life, with Brown looking intent to get away to pull one back for Jamaica , but tired legs in about 75th minute saw brown unable to get the full support in attack.
In the 78th minute Ebony Clarke came in for Adadalouken, and within seconds of the substitution, and before Jamaica could settle Mexican got one more as Belen Cruz was left unmarked and poked in at close range to make it 4-nil for Mexico in the 80th minute.
Another substitution beckoned for Jamaica and in came defender Madiaya Harriot for ……………Erin Mickalsen but it was too little too late.
With the seconds winding down and two minutes of time added, the shoulders of the Young Reggae girls dropped to some extent, but they had one last gasp effort when the Mexican defender Kim Rodriquez brought down striker Jody Brown inside the book.
The appeal for penalty was quickly waived off, and the resulting free kick fir Jamaica was fired wide and the final whistle sounded to end a tough night for the Jamaicans. Midfielder Andrea Hernandez was named player of the match.
Head Coach of the Jamaican Under 20 Reggae Girls team, Lorne Donaldson admitted that the Jamaicans never delivered on the night. “ It’s tough to say, but against Mexico were just was too flat, and too many mistakes also cost us the game, without a doubt at least 8 players in the Mexico team plays professional Women’s football, and we were really up against it, but not withstanding we just have to dust ourselves off and get ready for the next assignment”.
The defending Champions United States clipped Nicaragua t2- nil in the day’s other game in Group B’.
The Reggae girls will back in training on Saturday as they seek to rebound when they face USA in their next game on Sunday.