Reggae Girlz bow out

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz failed to advance to next year’s Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup after playing to a 1-1 draw with hosts Guatemala last night.

Ana Martinez fired the home team into the lead after 10 minutes, but Davia Richards secured Jamaica’s third draw in four qualifying games with a 66th-minute goal, which was still not enough to see them through to the next phase. Jamaica finished at the bottom of the three-team qualification group with three points behind group winners Panama on seven and Guatemala on five. Panama will advance to the Gold Cup group stage while Guatemala will play in a preliminary round.

Needing to win to advance, the Jamaicans nearly went ahead in the sixth minute during a melee, where Mikayla Dayes and Melissa Johnson got the opportunity to score but could not capitalise.

The host country took the lead when Lauren Reid brought Martinez down in the box, and Guatemala’s most decorated player converted to put her team in front.

Jamaica had a good chance in the 15th minute, but goalkeeper Alexia Astrada parried Melissa Johnson’s effort for a corner.

The Reggae Girlz began making a number of passes and took the sting out of the Guatemalans’ attack although goalkeeper Serena Mensah had to tip a spectacular 40 yards drive over the bar to stop Andrea Alvarez from making it 2-0.

Jamaica had a great chance at the end of the first half after the Guatemalan defence failed to clear a long ball over the top, but Johnson could not beat Estrada in goal.

The Reggae Girlz got an early break in the second half, but Mikayla Dayes was unable to convert the chance.

However, the Girlz got the equaliser after 65 minutes when the home team’s defence allowed Davia Richards to pick up a loose ball outside the area, and the forward drove towards goal and slammed the ball under Estrada to make it 1-1.

Elizabeth Estrada should have restored Guatemala’s lead shortly after, but she headed over with the goal at her mercy.

Estrada had another glorious opportunity in time added, but this time, she was denied by Mensah.

Despite their bravest efforts, the Girlz were unable to really create anything at the end and were eliminated as a result.