Post by Admin on Oct 20, 2018 2:16:42 GMT
J'ca qualify for FIFA Women's W/Cup
■ TEXAS
JAMAICA became the first Caribbean nation to qualify for a senior Women's World Cup by defeating Panama 4-2 on penalties, on Wednesday, to claim third place in the Concacaf qualifying tournament.
Later, the defending world champions United States defeated Canada 2-0 to retain their Concacaf title.
HISTORIC WIN: Jamaican players celebrate the country's qualification for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, at Toyota Stadium in Texas, USA, on Wednesday. The Jamaicans beat Panama on penalties in the Concacaf Women's Championship third-place showdown. -
Dominique Bond-Flasza scored the winning spotkick for Jamaica after both teams had battled to a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation and extra-time.
Both USA and Canada had already secured their places at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup slated to be held in France, with the third-placed team also earning a spot in the prestigious competition.
In so doing, the Reggae Girls, who are ranked No. 64 in the world, became the first Caribbean team to earn a spot in the World Cup. The island nation re-started its women's national team programme in 2014 after a six-year hiatus.
The Jamaica women opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Khadija Shaw buried her shot past Panama's outstanding goalkeeper Yenith Bailey. It was Shaw's 13th goal for the Reggae Girls in her last 12 national team matches. However, Panama drew level in the 74th minute thanks to a strike from Natalia Mills. The score stayed that way at the end of
90 minutes. Jamaica pulled ahead once again courtesy of 16-year-old Jody Brown's goal in the 95th minute. But just five minutes from time, Panama locked the scores at 2-2, with Lineth Cendeno's goal sending the game to penalties.
However, after a pair of Panama misses, Bond-Flasza placed her shot past Bailey to send Jamaica to France.
HISTORIC WIN: Jamaican players celebrate the country's qualification for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, at Toyota Stadium in Texas, USA, on Wednesday. The Jamaicans beat Panama on penalties in the Concacaf Women's Championship third-place showdown. -Photo: AFP