MONTERREY, Mexico – Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz qualified for their second consecutive senior FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 4-0 win over Haiti at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship at the Estadio BBVA.

It follows their historic first-time qualification in 2019.

The USA won the group with maximum nine points following their 1-0 win over Mexico who ended pointless. Jamaica finished second on six points ahead of Haiti on three points.

Jamaica’s all-time top scorer Khadija Shaw notched a double in the 58th and 69th minutes for her 53rd and 54th goals for her country.

Trudy Carter had opened the floodgates in the 26th before Drew Spencer put the icing on the cake in the 79th minute.

Jamaica punched their ticket to the ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup that was first played in 1991 and skipper Shaw was elated.

“It’s amazing. That’s all I can say, amazing,” Shaw.

“We came out here and we know it was gonna be hard but we stick together and at the end of the day we got the job done,” she added.

The Reggae Girlz became the 15th team to qualify joining Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, Phillipines, Vietnam, Sweden, Spain, France, Denmark, United States of America, Canada and Costa Rica.

“We always believed in it as much as how there was a lot of doubt and haters but we stayed positive because we believed in ourselves and we believed in the group and we know once we come together and work for each other and put in the effort anything is possible,” said Shaw.

The 2023 tournament will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand – the first time this is happening with the number of teams expanding from 24 to 32.

The fairly newly-built Estadio BBVA venue has a 52,000 capacity but with approximately 200 persons including staff and officials in attendance, the Reggae Girlz went about their business and got the job done in front of a handful of loudmouth Jamaicans.

Jamaica brought in Satara Murray at the heart of the defense for her tournament debut to partner Chantelle Swaby. Allyson Swaby was pushed to right-back while Tiernny Wiltshire, regular right-back, switched to left-back.

Drew Spence made a return to the starting team in the middle of the park alongside Havana Solaun and Atlanta Primus. Skipper Khadija Shaw was flanked by the speedy and skillful duo of Jody Brown and Trudy Carter upfront.

But after just four minutes, Jamaica were in a spot of bother as Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay raced down the right flank and her cutback was missed by Batcheba Louis from close range.

The Reggae Girlz responded as Shaw collected a ball on her chest, turned and kicked, but goalkeeper Nahomie Ambroise turned away for a corner.

But from the resulting corner kick, Haiti countered and almost found the breakthrough as Dumornay, despite the attention of two players, got off a shot that hit the inside of Rebecca Spencer’s left upright.

Shaw, who was having a more impactful game than the last one, found herself with space from a Trudy Carter freekick but fired tamely at goal in the 23rd minute.

But three minutes later, the Reggae Girlz struck following a beautifully orchestrated team goal ending with Shaw turning her marker and feeding Carter who made no mistake in the 26th minute, firing across the goalkeeper.

The half ended with Jamaica in front by a goal and 45 minutes away from another World Cup appearance. They strolled through the tunnel with heads high and were greeted by their teammates.

The resumption of the second half didn’t start too well for the Jamaicans as a slip by Satara Murray in the 53rd minute allowed Roselord Borgella through on goal but she somehow kicked wide with only goalkeeper Spencer to beat.

But things got better for Jamaica as Shaw found space to rifle home in the 58th minute giving Jamaica that cushion they deserved.

Haiti came really close in the 63rd minute as Dumornay’s powerful shot from just outside the box had goal written all over it before goalkeeper Spencer, somehow, got a hand to it and parried it onto the upright.

Four minutes later, Spencer again came to Jamaica’s rescue with a double save. Firstly, turning away Batcheba Louis’ low effort and saving well from a close-range header.

But all Jamaican nerves were calmed when Carter’s goalbound shot was handled and American referee Ekaterina Koroleva pointed to the spot for a penalty.

Skipper Shaw stepped up and buried the penalty kick in the 69th minute for her second goal of the match and her 54th overall.

But the Reggae Girlz were not done and Drew Spencer powered home a looping header in the 79th minute for her first goal for Jamaica and put the icing on the cake.

Teams

Jamaica: 13-Rebecca Spencer, 02-Satara Murray, 04-Chantelle Swaby, 06-Havana Solaun (03-Vyan Sampson 63rd), 09-Drew Spence (21-Olufolasade Adamoluken 86th), 10-Jody Brown, 11-Khadija Shaw, 17-Allyson Swaby, 18-Trudi Carter (22-Mireya Grey 83rd), 19-Tiernny Wiltshire, 20-Atlanta Primus (07-Chinyelu Asher 83rd).

Subs not used: 01-Sydney Schneider, 23-Yazmeen Jamieson, 05-Jade Bailey, 08-Kayla McCoy, 12-Jayada Pelaia, 15-Kalyssa Vanzanten, 16-Paige Bailey-Gayle.

Booked:

Coach: Lorne Donaldson

Haiti: 12-Nahomie Ambroise, 02-Chelsea Surpris, 03-Jennyfer Limage, 06-Melchie Dumornay, 07-Batcheba Louis, 09-Sherly Jeudy (05-Maudeline Moryl 81st), 10-Nerilia Monddesir (16-Milan Pierre 81st), 14-Claire Constant, 20-Kethna Louis, 21-Ruthny Mathurin, 22-Roselord Borgella.

Subs not used: 01-Madelina Fleuriot, 23-Lara Larco, 04-Tabita Joseph, 08-Meghane St-cyr, 11-Valentina Ornis, 13-Betina Petit Frere, 15-Florsie Joseph, 17-Mikerline Saintfelix, 18-Estericove Joseph, 19-Dayana Pierre.

Booked: Ruthny Mathurin 44th, Kethna Louis 76th.

Coach: Nicolas Delphine