The U14 Reggae Girlz saw their dazzling unbeaten streak come to an abrupt end on Friday, falling 2-0 to Puerto Rico in the semi-finals of the 2025 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Challenge Series at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago.
Coming into the clash on the back of three consecutive victories over Bermuda, Aruba, and host nation Trinidad and Tobago, the Jamaicans entered full of confidence. But two quick-fire strikes in the 32nd and 34th minutes derailed their campaign, handing them their first and only defeat of the tournament.
Puerto Rico strikes twice in two minutes
After a lively opening where both sides probed for openings, it was Puerto Rico who seized the initiative just past the half-hour mark. A Jamaican counterattack broke down, allowing Paula Storer to surge past her marker and slip a clever pass into Carolina O’Brien.
O’Brien reacted swiftly, toeing the ball beyond the advancing Mikalia Banton and steering it calmly into the net for the opener.
Barely two minutes later, Jamaica’s woes deepened. A seemingly harmless free kick from the right flank by Lizmarie Espinoza caused chaos in the Jamaican box. Miscommunication between goalkeeper Banton and defender Shennel Walters saw the ball ricochet between them before trickling agonizingly over the line.
Reggae Girlz unable to break Puerto Rican defense
Stunned by the double blow, the young Jamaicans fought valiantly to claw their way back, creating several half-chances. Yet Puerto Rico’s defense, disciplined and well-organized, refused to yield. The Reggae Girlz were left frustrated, unable to replicate the attacking fluency that had fueled their earlier wins.
Puerto Rico’s victory propelled them into the Tier I final, where they will square off against the Dominican Republic. The Dominicans punched their ticket with a narrow 1-0 semi-final win over Bermuda.
The championship match will be a rematch of the Group A encounter, where the Dominican Republic had dispatched Puerto Rico 3-0 in convincing fashion earlier in the tournament.
