Interim head coach of the Reggae Girlz, Xavier Gilbert, expressed satisfaction with the performance of his inexperienced squad despite their 1-2 loss to Panama in the Group B CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup qualifier at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City on Wednesday.
The inexperienced Jamaicans, with only one training session under their belt, took a 21st minute lead through Ricshya Walker, only for Jamaican central defender Alika Keene to turn the ball home for an own goal on the stroke of half-time.
The host turned the game around and secured all three points when Keene failed to clear her lines and served up substitute Lineth Cedeno for an 84th minute goal.
Several key players, including those who represented Jamaica at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, were absent due to a pay dispute and issues with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). The team declined call-ups for these qualifiers in protest of what they referred to as “continued mistreatment” by the JFF. Additionally, the Reggae Girlz experienced a change in leadership, with former head coach Lorne Donaldson not having his contract renewed. Gilbert was appointed interim head coach and assembled a significantly weakened 23-member squad comprising college players and a few professionals.
Only 18 players available
At kick-off on Wednesday he had only 18 players at his disposal.
“Tough game!” was his immediate reaction at game’s end.
“But we know that was the situation, it was going to be tough and rough, but I’m pleased with the way the girls executed tonight, unfortunate that we didn’t manage to hold on to the lead and we lost the game in the last five to 10 minutes. I think the ladies did enough to have at least gained a point, but that’s the way it is, I’m still happy with the way that they performed and I think they made Jamaica proud,” Gilbert added.
“We just have to build on this heading into Sunday’s encounter.”
On Sunday, Gilbert’s charges will turn their attention to Guatemala inside Kingston’s National Stadium. Guatemala had defeated Panama 3-0 in Panama, before losing 3-2 at home in the return fixture.
It was Jamaica who took a surprise lead when Mikayla Dayes slipped her marker on the left side of the penalty box before teeing up a ball at the back post for Walker to tap home left-footed.
The home side stuck to its principle of ball possession and continued to probe and they went close when captain Marta Cox teed up Riley Tanner on the half hour mark, but the slender attacker slid her left-footed on the wrong side of the upright.
Keene’s inadvertent own goal
But just when Jamaica appeared set to see out the first half, disaster struck as Cox sent in a curving cross from the left, only for Keene, who was facing her own goal, diving forward to inadvertently head past her goalkeeper Aliyah Gordon a minute from the half time break.
Tanner broke free of the tiring Jamaican defence inside the last 10 minutes, but Gordon advanced well to deny her and keep Jamaica on level keel.
And Gordon had to be alert moments later to tip a long range shot over the horizontal, which resulted in a corner and the eventual winner.
Cox delivered the right-sided corner which was partially cleared and the tricky attacking player was quick to deliver another teasing ball into the danger area only for Keene to miss her clearance and allow the ball to drop at the feet of Cedeno who made no mistake from close range.
Coach Gilbert acknowledged the team’s limitations but praised their defensive efforts.
“We know we didn’t have the legs and the personnel to outplay them and outpossess them, but we tried to control the game in front of us and I think defensively we were good with that,” explained Gilbert.
“It’s just unfortunate that we managed to score an own goal in the end there, but credit must be given to the way they executed.”
The team is expected in Jamaica on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s game.
