Mexico blank Young Girlz to land four-nation tourney

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) -- Mexico emerged champions of the Four-nation Under-17 women's football tournament when they shot past Jamaica 2-0 in the final round Friday night at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.

Mexico struck both goals in the second half to sink the Jamaicans while recording their third win from as many games in the series.

Hosts Trinidad and Tobago held Canada to a 1-1 draw in Friday's other match.

After a 0-0 first-half between Jamaica and Mexico, Diana Gonzalez opened the scoring in the 48th minute for the central American CONCACAF powerhouse.

Andrea Sanchez got the second item six minutes later to secure series honours for Mexico.

The T&T U17s got a morale-boosting draw with Canada in the closing fixture.

With Mexico already taking home the title, the encounter between T&T and Canada held little importance but both teams were eager to get a win as they prepare for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup here in Trinidad in September.

The nippy Khadisha Debesette nodded T&T ahead in the 20th minute when she poked the ball over the line after the Canadians failed to clear a right sided free-kick from Shante Helwig-Correia.

Canada, organised and composed for much of the match, got their equaliser in the 55th minute when Haisha Cantave shot home with a well taken effort.

T&T, preparing to stage the 2010 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup from September 5-25, were picking up their second point of the tournament, having drawn 0-0 with Jamaica in their opening match before losing 0-2 to Mexico.

Jamaica were beaten 4-1 by Canada and finished bottom of the table with one point.