In an impressive performance at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday, the eve of their departure for the FIFA Women World Cup in France, the Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz defeated Panama by 3-1.
Khadija “Bunny” Shaw again played outstandingly scoring in the 29th and 49th minutes, with substitute Shakira Duncan scoring the third goal in the 79th minute.
Captain Natalia Mills got the consolation for Panama in the 64th minute.
South Florida invited to fete Reggae Girlz during week of activities
Throughout the game the Girlz were dominant in possession, aggressive in attacking which saw them living in Panama’s half of the field for most of the first half.
Panama showed signs of life in the 20th minute when Kara Riley got by defenders to force a strong right foot shot to goal only to be denied by Jamaica’s goalkeeper Sydney Schneider, diving to her right’
The near goal by Panama seemed to immediately mobilize the Reggae Girlz and Dominique Bond-Flasza’s responded with powerful left-foot strike that skirted off the crossbar. And in the 26th minute Shaw just missed her first goal as the Panamanian goalkeeper diving full length pushed what seemed to be a certain goal out of the goal.
However, Shaw and the Reggae Girlz were relentless in attack and two minutes later made no mistake as she scored Jamaica’s first of three goals.
The score remained Jamaica 1, Panama 0 at half-time.
Four minutes in the second half Shaw scored again on a low cross from Olufolasade Adamolekun.
Panama would score their only goal when their captain easily shot into an empty goal net after a defensive mix-up involving substitute goalkeeper Nicole McClure.
As the half waned Shakira Duncan neatly collected a pass from Shaw and scored Jamaica’s third goal from close range.
