PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Under-20 Reggae Girlz assistant coach Hubert Busby says the job is not done though Jamaica advanced to the CONCACAF stage of World Cup qualifying after edging Puerto Rico 2-1 in Wednesday’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) semi-final match at the Stade Sylvio Cator.

Striker Simone Wark, who arrived in Haiti on Tuesday to join the squad, put the young Girlz ahead in the third minute. Deneisha Blackwood, a standout player in the tournament, doubled the advantage in the 64th minute.

Alejandra Carrion pulled one back for Puerto Rico in the 83rd minute. Jamaica, though playing without injured captain Khadija Shaw who was an unused substitute on the bench, prevailed for the win.

This evening at 6:00 pm Jamaica time, the Reggae Girlz are set to play the final against hosts Haiti, who blanked Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 in the other semi-final. Trinidad and Puerto Rico will contest the third- and fourth-place play-off with the winner joining Jamaica and Haiti in the CONCACAF Round, scheduled for Honduras in December.

“From that perspective (qualifying for CONACAF Round) the mission has been accomplished, but obviously the ultimate goal is to be Caribbean champions and head into CONCACAF with that and it will help our seeding as well, in theory,” said Busby.

He told the Jamaica Observer that though his players were wasteful in possession, they still conjured up enough opportunities to kill the game off from the first half.

“Our fitness was better than theirs, but we didn’t manage the ball effectively in the first half, and throughout the game, to be honest. In those hot conditions you want to use the ball and make good decisions, but we gave away the ball too easily. And also we did not put away the chances we created, because we felt we created enough to put that game away from the first half.

“When you do that you give a quality opposition like Puerto Rico an opportunity to come back into the game. Through sloppy play we conceded against the run of play, but credit to the players they found the resilience to hang on throughout the game. We utilised our strength (quick players) to stretch the opposition… and we took the game to them, reflected by the fact we scored so early. There is still room for growth, but winning like they did bodes well for their development,” the assistant coach said.

Jamaica had control of the first half in very balmy and humid afternoon conditions, exacerbated on-field by the heat reflecting off the venue’s artificial turf.

Wark, introduced as a starter with little time to adjust to new surroundings, poked home from six yards after a combination between the tricky Jessica Johnson and Blackwood.

It was not one-way traffic however as Puerto Rico, though lacking incisive attacks, threatened through sheer will and organisation.

On the 35-minute mark, players welcomed a planned drink break, but shortly after the slugfest resumed with neither team backing off.

It took an exceptional dribble from Blackwood and poor defensive decision-making from Puerto Rico for Jamaica to get their second.

The left-sided player collected the ball just inside the Puerto Rican half and sliced between two opponents before slotting into the goal with defenders in retreat.

Playing with a makeshift back-line, due to the suspension of central defender Tarania Clarke, Jamaica were error prone and uncertain in defence.

Carrion took advantage with seven minutes remaining when she fired in from 10 yards. But thereafter Jamaica were hardly troubled as the scoreline remained 2-1 in their favour.

Teams:

Jamaica — Ricquelle Farquharson, Shanhaine Nelson, Konya Plummer, Carlletia Savizon, Felicia Davidson, Rasha Roberts, Asheina Nelson (Sherice Clarke 65th), Deneisha Blackwood, Simone Wark (Monique Perrier 87th), Jessica Johnson, Rena Gordon.

Subs not used: Mureka Howard, Kevena Reid, Melissa Hamilton, Peter Kaye Green, Khadija Shaw

Booked: None

Puerto Rico — Maria Guerrero, Nashali Class, Dominique Rivera, Mariana Lopez, Mirianee Zaragoza, Marjorie Martinez (Angela Diaz 28th), Adriana Tirado (Ilandra Guadalupe 28th), Alejandra Carrion, Adriana Font, Josephine Cotto (Angely Luna 65th), Naisha Alicea

Subs not used: Yeishalee Berrios, Karla Aponte, Marie Ortiz, Rose Tirado

Booked: Alicea (77th)

Referee: Gillian Martindale (Barbados)

Assistant Referees: Wesline Louis (Haiti), Shannon Gibson (Barbados)

Fourth Official: Debora Zebeda (Suriname)

Match Commissary: Sharon O’Brien (Trinidad & Tobago)