Jamaica’s Young Reggae Girlz have qualified for the final round of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship after beating Honduras 2-0 in their final Group E preliminary game at the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua, Tuesday night.
A second-minute strike from Natoya Atkinson settled the nerves of the Jamaicans, who had been forced into a must-win situation having gone into the top-of-the-table contest with an inferior goal difference.
Atkinson returned in the second minute of time added in the second half to seal the victory and book her team’s ticket to the Championships set for the Dominican Republic between May 24 and June 3.
Jamaica and Honduras entered Tuesday’s game with maximum six points after Jamaica defeated Anguilla 6-0 and Bermuda 2-0, while the Central Americans handed out 9-0 and 5-0 wins over Anguilla and Bermuda for their healthy goal average.
The Young Reggae Girlz join Panama as the other country to have secured places for next month’s final round. Only the six group winners will advance to the CONCACAF Championship where they will join the United States and Mexico at the championship.
This Championship will serve as a qualifier for the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled for next year.
