Sport

Blaine upbeat despite heavy defeat to Canada

Saturday, March 13, 2010

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Coach Vin Blaine was surprisingly upbeat even as his team went crashing 1-4 to Canada in their opening Group A match of the CONCACAF Under-17 Women's World Cup qualifying tournament at the Morera Soto Stadium here Thursday night.

In the other match in the double-header, Mexico shot to the top of the group on goal difference with their 6-0 win over Panama.

Though clearly outclassed in every department, Girlz coach Blaine suggested that every positive coming out of the late game can only aid his team as they zoom in on Mexico today and then Panama two days later.

"In terms of our positives, I think the goal that we scored was the one for the game as it came from a good move and it showed that we can compete... with more time with them they will be a much better unit," said Blaine.

"Tactically they (Canadians) are well prepared and technically they are good, but what I was most encouraged about was our own performance despite the goal; I believe we gave up two silly goals and it would have been a much closer game score wise," added the veteran women's coach.

After being outrun, outmuscled and outmanoeuvred tactically, the Young Reggae Girlz put all their pre-match troubles behind them to conjure up a creditable second half display that saw them pull a goal back to make the score 3-1.

From a good combination between skipper Trudi Carter and substitute Shantel Bailey, Shenika Williams composed herself with the quality of an established operator to slip the ball between defender and goalkeeper from an inch-perfect pass from Bailey.

Bailey, along with another teammate Shanese Bowen, had arrived mere hours before kick-off after their anxious 24-hour detention in Miami caused by a visa-related matter, but the midfielder showed no signs of fatigue when she entered play and promptly became her flagging team's source of inspiration.

"Shantel Bailey was a big find for us as she came in just before we went to Cayman and she showed me something that I am very pleased about, as she did exactly what I asked her to do; she is a gem," said a delighted Blaine.

"I never felt that this delay would have bothered her, I just didn't start her because I thought she would be tired, but having arrived here only hours before the game, still she was all over Canada," he added.

Canada -- the well-established group favourites and who had defeated the Girlz in a four-team tourney by the identical 4-1 scoreline in Trinidad just over a week ago -- quickly put a grip on the game when they went ahead in seventh minute through Kylie Davis' side-footed shot past indecisive Jamaican goalie Shantel Graham.

The North Americans made it 2-0 in the 44th minute, with yet another simple side-footed shot from Nour Ghoneim from the edge of the area, as the Jamaican defence went for a snooze and failed to repel the danger.

Another goal was in the bag for Canada and Ghoneim's second when the smooth attacker struck with deadly efficiency to profit off another Jamaica defensive bungle to tap home.

If no other, Canada's final goal could have been prevented if the goalkeeper Graham had exercised better judgement for a low ball into the area. Had she been more assertive in assessing the threat, substitute Sabrina Hemond could not have slipped through to stab home the bubbling loose ball.

But though Jamaica were largely timid in the offensive third, Carter had two ambition long-range efforts that did not fly too far from the target.

Teams: Jamaica -- Shantel Graham, Shanise Foster, Renee Freeman, Shauntae Brown, Tisha Henry-Henny, Trudi Carter, Shenika Williams, Lotoya Duhaney (Shantel Bailey 49th), Davia Morrison (Teola Caine 56th), Alika Keene, Adrianna Johnson (Natani Tomlinson-Trail 57th).

Subs not used: C Chambers, S Bowen, R Hyde, Sh'nell Briscoe

Booked: None

Canada -- Sabrina D'Angelo, Chantal Campbell, Kylie Davis, Diamond Simpson, Caroline Beauline, Nour Ghoneim, Alison Clrake, Nicole Setterlund (Zakia McIntosh 80th), Katherine Caverly, Haisha Cantave (Sabrina Hemond 69th), Alexndra Courtnall.

Subs not used: R Beanlands, H Price, Y Ongtengco, K McNicoll, S Jainudeen, A Raymer

Booked: None

Referee: Erica Vargas (Costa Rica)

Assistant Referees: Flor Escobar (Guyana), Alison Monge (Costa Rica)

Fourth Official: Diane Ferreira (Guyana)

Match Commissioner: Julia Rocha

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