Concacaf Women's Championship | Jamaica blank Mexico 1-0
Published:Monday | July 4, 2022 | 11:18 PMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Jamaica took a big first step in their bid to qualify for back-to-back Women's World Cups by defeating Mexico 1-0 in their Group A opener of the Concacaf Women's Championship in Monterrey, Mexico on Monday night.
Khadija Shaw scored the only goal of the game in the eighth minute as the Reggae Girlz stunned the hosts to give themselves the best possible start to their final round qualifying campaign.
Interim head coach Lorne Donaldson's first starting lineup in his return to the senior women's programme saw a full debut for England-born Drew Spence who got her international clearance and the return of Denisha Blackwood to the team after a long injury layoff. Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer got her third consecutive start of the campaign.
Despite the support of the home crowd, it would be the Reggae Girlz who would strike first. Deniesha Blackwood's delivery from a free-kick found Shaw and she soared over the Mexican defence to glance the ball past Mexican goalkeeper Emily Alvardo and into the net.
While Jamaica got behind the Mexican back line on several occasions, the hosts still found ways to threaten the Reggae Girlz in the first half. Immediately after the goal they conceded a free-kick from outside the area but the attempt was a comfortable save from Spencer. However, there were moments that were not comfortable for Jamaica with the pressure increasing from the Mexicans. A cross found the head of a Mexican player but her effort hit the post.
In the 26th minute, Carolina Jaramillo's volley from outside the penalty area forced an outstanding save from Spencer. From the resulting corner, Maria Sanchez's low cross into the box found the feet of a Mexican player but her shot was blocked.
Jamaica's best opportunity for a second goal came in the 39th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Casandra Montero was called for a handball in the box after a Video Assistant Referee review. However, Havana Solaun saw her attempt sail over the bar.
The missed opportunity did not damper Jamaica's intensity in the second half as Jody Brown and Shaw combined to give the Girlz two good chances to double their lead. Two minutes after the restart Brown was sent through on goal but her effort went wide and in the 53rd minute, Shaw also got through on goal and lifted the ball over Alvardo but hit the post.
Jamaica survived a nervy final 10 minutes but Mexico, despite sending numbers forward, were not able to get the equaliser. Jamaica finished with 12 shots with four on target while Mexico had 13 shots but only two on target.
Jamaica are tied on three points with world champions the United States, their next opponents on Thursday. The Americans defeated Haiti 3-0 earlier in the evening.