Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz face an uphill task to overturn a 0-2 deficit when they visit the BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, for Tuesday’s return leg against the hosts in their crucial Paris 2024 Olympic Games Qualifier.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm (Toronto time).
In the first leg inside Kingston’s National Stadium last Friday, Canada easily proved the better team with a convincing victory, thanks to an 18th minute goal from Nichelle Prince, and a very late strike (90th+3) from Adriana Leon, who easily could have had a hat-trick on any other night.
Canada, number 10 on the FIFA World List, is the reigning Olympic Games gold medallist, and a three-time medallist, while Jamaica, ranked 37th on the FIFA World List, has never qualified for the quadrennial event.
They might have enjoyed contrasting fortunes at last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Canada suffering a shock group stage elimination, while Jamaica advanced to the Round of 16 for the very first time in only their second World Cup appearance.
Last Friday the North Americans proved they were much the better team and deserving Tokyo Olympics champion with a stylish display, which stymied the Jamaican attacks while penetrating the Jamaican defence with regularity.
Reggae Girlz need to change fortunes, says coach Donaldson
The winner on aggregate over the two games goes to the Olympic Games next year in Paris, France, but if it is tied the team with more away goals advance.
If the two teams are still tied, 30 minutes of extra time will be played Tuesday, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary. The loser drops into a Women’s Gold Cup Qualifying Group A which includes Panama and Guatemala.
For the Reggae Girlz head coach Lorne Donaldson, the equation is simple.
“We have to go into Canada and try to change our fortunes, try to make something happen differently,” he told the media during a post-game press conference last Friday.
“We are a team that is coming together and we are still searching for some combinations that we think can work, so scoring goals is difficult, and we haven’t played anybody who is a slouch, so we have to get games that are winnable games for us so that we can start building because it doesn’t come easy when you play teams like Canada, France, Brazil and those teams,” he added.
“It’s not going to be easy, so hopefully we can find a way and get through the situation and start scoring goals.”
Canada’s coach Priestman wants to complete job
His opposite number, Bev Priestman, was pleased with the manner in which her team stamped its superiority over the Jamaicans in their backyard and she plans to complete the job on Tuesday in front of a sold out, partisan crowd.
“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…”
The Canadians departed Jamaica via charter shortly after their game last Friday night, while the Jamaicans journeyed up north on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams trained at the match venue on Monday, with Reggae Girlz Captain Khadija Shaw and winger Jody Brown receiving treatment on the sideline.
Donaldson is expected to make changes, much of which will be dictated by the availability of Shaw and Brown.
Defender Swaby disappointed with first leg loss
Central defender Allyson Swaby, who was late to stop the flashing header of Prince for the opening goal last Friday, says the team must find a way to score goals if the team is to advance.
“Obviously disappointed to not have gotten the result we wanted, but it’s a two-way tie so I think we’re just focused on improving for the next game and fighting back.
“I think the goals that we conceded were really small errors that we could’ve handled better and then I just think that ultimately if we want to advance we have to find a way to win, so we have to figure out how to put the ball in the back of the net.”
In 10 previous meetings between the two sides, Jamaica is yet to win any, conceding 62 goals while scoring just once.
Left wingback Deneisha Blackwood is clinging to hope as she believes there is still a chance for the Girlz to create a miracle inside BMO Field, 80 miles northeast of Niagara Falls.
Blackwood admits fault for first goal against Canada
“It is two legs and I think this first leg is like a first half, so the next game we have to look at it like it’s 2-0 at half time, how can we get back one and we just have to start for there… but I think there are a lot of things we need to improve on and it is just simple things like communication and playing together as a unit and I think once we do that we will be good.”
For the first goal last Friday, it was Ashley Lawrence who was given too much time and space on the right flank to whip in a cross for Prince to flash home past Rebecca Spence in goal for Jamaica.
Blackwood was the defender who failed to prevent the cross and she readily accepted responsibility.
“Obviously I’ll take one for the team and say the first goal it was my fault as I think I should have released earlier and get pressure on the ball, but it’s a part of the game and I think there is a lot of things that we could have prevented before that, so it’s like a collective fault.”
With Jamaica already chasing the game, they can’t afford to make too many errors, especially defensively, as that would present Canada with safe passage to kill off the game as a contest.
Teams from: Jamaica – Rebecca Spencer, Vyan Sampson, Konya Plummer, Drew Spence, Jody Brown, Solai Washington, Khadija Shaw, Deneisha Blackwood, Allyson Swaby, Tiernny Wiltshire, Atlanta Primus, Kayla McKenna, Cheyna Matthews, Tiffany Cameron, 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, Vanessa Gilles, Nichelle Prince, Jordyn Huitema, Jessie Flemming, Julia Grosso, Adriana Leon, Cloe Lacrosse, Jade Rose, Shelina Zadorsky, Lysianne Prouix, Sabrina D’angelo, Olivia Smith, Marie-yasmine Alidou, Evelyne Viens, Christine Sinclair, Simi Awujo, Bianca St Georges.
