Reggae Girlz roll past Barbados
It was another delightful display from Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz in a 7-0 thrashing of Barbados to register their second-straight win in the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Caribbean Qualifying campaign at National Stadium yesterday.
Cheyna Matthews continued her rich form with goals in the second and 23rd minutes, while Trudi Carter (34th and 36th) also had a brace.
Chinyelu Asher (70th) and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw (90th) got one apiece with the other being a sixth-minute own goal by defender Tia Brigg-Thompson.
With the win, the Jamaicans remained in pole position in Group B with six points and 19 goals to their stats, while conceding only one.
Cuba, who earlier hammered United States Virgin Islands 6-0 in the curtain-raiser, are in second, also on six points but from three games, while Barbados and St Lucia have three points each.
Only the group winner will advance to the final round.
As they did in the opening contest against Cuba, Jamaica raced to a quick 5-0 lead at the break, parading some colourful touch-and-go passes at times in their build-ups.
Matthews got the ball rolling with a simple tap-in from a low pass played across goal by Carter, who briskly broke down the right channel.
The score was quickly doubled when the talismanic Shaw dismissed her marker and had a clear look at goal, but unselfishly drove in a low cross intended for the onrushing Carter.
However, Carter was beaten to the punch by Brigg-Thompson, who fired past her custodian Kamillah Burke.
As the Jamaicans camped out in the opponents’ half and took turns attacking the goal, Shaw and Asher were both denied by Burke in quick succession.
Matthews had no such problems as she completed her brace with a tidy finish from close range.
After firing one over the crossbar from close range in the 26th, Carter made amends, dismissing all and sundry before firing into an empty net after expertly taking down a weighted cross from Deneisha Blackwood.
A good build-up between Sashana Campbell and Asher then set up Carter to complete her brace before the break.
Jamaica’s tempo dropped significantly on the resumption and the goals dried, mostly due to Barbados’ stout defending and Burke’s stellar glovework to keep the Jamaicans at bay.
The scoreline was eventually extended through Asher, who finished off a brilliant solo effort with aplomb.
Shaw continued to torment Barbados’ defensive line but still couldn’t find a way to beat Burke’s glove from close range and also when she decided to shoot from a distance.
The FC Bordeaux striker eventually added her name to the scoresheet from the penalty spot on the stroke of full time.
Teams: Jamaica — Chris-Ann Chambers, Tiernny Wiltshire, Sashana Campbell, Allyson Swaby, Dominique Bond-Flasza, Deneisha Blackwood, Chinyelu Asher, Havana Solaun (Shantel Bailey 75th), Cheyna Matthews (Tiffany Cameron 46th), Trudi Carter (Reilly Paterson 66th), Khadija Shaw
Subs not used: Ricquelle Farquharson, Chantelle Swaby, Rena Gordon, Tarania Clarke, Reilly Paterson
Booked: None
Barbados — Kamillah Burke, Shanelle Als, Kerry Bascombe, Tia Brigg-Thompson, Kimberly Ellis (Alyssa Yard 90+1), Shanice Stevenson, Ashanee Thompson, Shonna Evelyn (Shonelle Stephen 47th), Amber De Silvia (Keinelle Johnson 64th), Olianna Bishop, Soraya Toppin-Herbert
Subs not used: Cadijah Mars, Chazelle Cumberbatch, Rianna Cyrus, Shakira Waithe, Shante Padmore
Booked: Brigg-Thompson (60th)
Referee: Cibeles Miranda (El Salvador)
Assistant referees: Lidia Ayala (El Salvador); Ivonne Ayala (El Salvador)
Fourth official: Astrid Gramajo (Guatemala)
Match commissary: Gwendolyn Salmon (Antigua and Barbuda)