PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Jamaica advanced to the CONCACAF stage of Women’s Under-20 World Cup qualifying after clipping Puerto Rico 2-1 in yesterday’s semi-final match of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament at the Stade Sylvio Cator.

Newly arrived striker Simone Wark put Jamaica into the lead in the third minute. As a pulsating battle unfolded, the impressive Deneisha Blackwood fired in a second in the 64th minute after a crafty solo run.

Puerto Rico made the Jamaicans sweat when Alejandra Carrion halved the deficit in the 83rd minute. Despite some nervous moments near the end, Jamaica, playing without top player and captain Khadija Shaw due to injury, held on for the win.

Up to press time, the hosts Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago were locked in battle in the second semi-final at the venue.

Jamaica will face the winners of that game in tomorrow’s final, while Puerto Rico will take on the loser to determine the third and final CFU qualifer to the CONCACAF round in Honduras in December.

Yesterday, Wark, brought in as a starter after arriving in Haiti a day earlier, poked home from six yards with minimal fuss before either team had settled. The goal was made possible after Jessica Johnson skilfully weaved a path down the left and passed for Blackwood, who mishit a shot toward goal, but the long-legged Wark intercepted and turned into the net.

Jamaica proceeded to dominate the first half, but could have conceded just after the half-hour mark, but stand-in skipper Konya Plummer cleared emphatically as a loose ball bounced toward the goal-line.

So hot were the conditions that the match officials took a short drink break at minute 35.

That did little to slow the intensity on the field, as both teams went at each other’s throat.

The tempo remained hectic at the start of the second half before Blackwood scored her third goal of the tournament.

The slim-built player, operating in the middle of the park, instead of wide on the flank to make up for Shaw’s absence, picked up the ball approximately 40 yards out and dribbled between two opponents before bearing down on a retreating defence. The attacker was escorted all the way into the 18-yard box before hitting a left-footer past Puerto Rican ‘keeper Maria Guerrero.

Playing with a makeshift back line, due to the suspension of defender Tarania Clarke, Jamaica made several mistakes. And Puerto Rico capitalised on one such error seven minutes before the end when Alejandra Carrion muscled her way through on goal to boot home from 10 yards. It was too little too late, however, as the Young Reggae Girlz prevailed for the win.