Reigning Olympic Games gold medallist Canada took a significant step towards qualifying for the Paris 2024 edition following their convincing 2-0 triumph over a hapless Jamaica after the first leg of their two-way tie inside Kingston’s National Stadium on Friday night.
Nichelle Prince put the North Americans ahead on 18 minutes, and Adriana Leon, who could have easily scored a hat-trick on the night, sealed the deal in the third minute of time added in the second half.
The victors were scheduled to depart the game venue for the Norman Manley International Airport for their return charter flight to Canada later Friday night, while the Jamaicans were slated to depart the Donald Sangster International Airport early Saturday afternoon for Toronto, Canada.
The teams will conclude the tie at the BMO Field next Tuesday at 7:00 pm (Toronto time) with the winners on aggregate advancing to the Olympic Games and the losers dropping into a Women’s Gold Cup Qualifying Group A which includes Panama and Guatemala.
Girlz lack potency in attack
The three teams will play home and away starting October 25 with the loser facing Panama away.
The Reggae Girlz threatened early on but lacked the potency in attack to trouble goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
But before long right winger Ashley Lawrence slipped by Deneisha Blackwood to serve up a sumptuous cross for the onrushing Prince to plant a header past Spencer.
Jody Brown and Cheyna Matthews created a few chances but found the Canadian defence proving equal to the task.
Jamaica’s head coach Lorne Donaldson thought his side had the opportunities to force Sheridan to work harder in the Canada goal.
“The first 10, 15 minutes we had two [chances] that we should have done something better with and then they [Canada] had one and they finished it, so right there it could have been different,” he explained to the media in a postgame press conference.
He added: “So chasing the game is very difficult at times when you play against good teams. Canada is the defending [reigning] champions …games like this, usually you score first you get a result.”
No satisfaction in losing – Donaldson
Like they did at the FIFA Women’s World Cup down under, the Reggae Girlz appeared solid at the back, thanks to the return of Konya Plummer, and Allyson Swaby in central defence, but they looked short on ideas when in attack.
“There is not a lot of satisfaction when you lose games. They got their chances and they took them, we got our chances and we didn’t, there’s no satisfaction in that.
“We weren’t as good as we should be,” noted Donaldson, who was impressed with Plummer, the Reggae Girlz captain at the 2019 World Cup in France.
“Konya was actually good, for not playing for such a long time… Chantelle Swaby is carrying a knock and we had to rest her and Konya came in and did an excellent job and that was fantastic,” Donaldson noted.
Leon proves more than a handful for Reggae Girlz
Canada almost doubled their lead immediately upon the resumption as Leon forced Spence to block an effort which was cleared off the line by a retreating defender.
From the resulting corner kick, Leon struck the frame of the goal as Canada pressed to extend their lead.
On the hour mark Leon had two more bites at the cherry but after clearing her path to get a shot off at goal which was blocked, she looked on in disbelief as she turned the rebound wide of the mark from close range.
Thereafter it became desperate defending by Jamaica and Canada connected on passes while taking full control of the game.
Donaldson made an adjustment by dropping Captain Shaw into midfield and at times the Girlz actually looked more fluent in their attacks, forcing the Canadians on their backfoot. However, the Girlz just couldn’t find the consistency to pull level.
In added time Leon finally had something to smile about as she tapped home from close range after a neat pass from substitute Gabby Carle on the right side of the penalty area.
Canada’s head coach Bev Priestman was overjoyed with the manner of victory.
“I think we put a lot of attention on the mindset because I felt that was lacking and affected us at the World Cup and I told them to go out there today, first and foremost, to show that this team’s character is back, the football will take care of itself. We’ve been working hard on the pitch with that. It means that I felt the most important thing to come to Jamaica, home crowd with a team that’s been riding high and our character has shone through.
Priestman wants Canada to put on a show in return leg
Priestman added: “We started a little bit tentative but I think as the game went on I thought we looked good.”
She is now looking forward to next Tuesday’s return leg games.
“We want to go to Toronto and put on a good show and get the job done. The job is only half done and I think that’s been the message to the players that I know this Jamaica group is going to come and do everything, throw the kitchen sink at us because the Olympic Games is on the line and not a lot of people get to go to that, so we’ve got to be ready, got to do everything properly…”
She said the Reggae Girlz showed what her coaching staff expected, which is that they can “break in transition, direct play. They have the threats to join the box and for us we really focused on playing with an intensity, moving the ball quickly and that’s what we tried to do and I felt like we did that and that’s where we started to pick up.”
Teams: Jamaica – Rebecca Spencer, Vyan Sampson, Konya Plummer, Drew Spence, Jody Brown (Solai Washington 54th), Khadija Shaw, Deneisha Blackwood, Allyson Swaby, Tiernny Wiltshire, Atlanta Primus (Kayla McKenna 71st), Cheyna Matthews (Tiffany Cameron 54th)
Booked: None
Subs not used: Sydney Schneider, Liya Brooks, Chantelle Swaby, Shaneil Buckley, Olufolasade Adamolukun, Kameron Simmonds, Sashana Campbell, Paige Bailey, Trudi Carter
Canada – Kailen Sheridan, Sydney Collins, Kadeisha Buchanan, Quinn, Ashley Lawrence (Gabby Carle 82nd), Vanessa Gilles, Nichelle Prince (Jordyn Huitema 66th), Jessie Flemming (Julia Grosso 73rd), Adriana Leon, Cloe Lacrosse, Jade Rose (Shelina Zadorsky 73rd)
Booked: Gilles (53rd), Buchanan (90th+3)
Subs not used: Lysianne Prouix, Sabrina D’angelo, Olivia Smith, Marie-yasmine Alidou, Evelyne Viens, Christine Sinclair, Simi Awujo, Bianca St Georges
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva (US)
Assistant Referee 1: Kathryn Nesbill (US)
Assistant Referee 2: Felisha Mariscal (US)
Fourth Official: Natalie Simon (US)
Referee Assessor: Mayte Chavez (Mexico)
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