Although Xavier Gilbert, interim head coach of Jamaica’s senior women’s football team, anticipates another tough game against Guatemala in Group B of League A of the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifiers today, he expects a favourable result.

The game is scheduled for 5:00 pm at National Stadium.

The Reggae Girlz, who were missing all the players from their standout 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup roster, were defeated 1-2 by Panama in their first 2024 Women’s Gold Cup qualifier on Wednesday at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.

The improvised Jamaican team fought hard against Panama before falling to a late winner by the Canaleras. For a long time the scores were level at 1-1 after Jamaica gained an early lead and it appeared they would hang on to a draw, but it wasn’t to be.

Panama substitute Lineth Cedeno scored in the 84th minute to secure Panama a 2-1 triumph and move them to the top of Group B with six points and one game remaining — a trip to Jamaica in November. The Jamaicans are still looking for their first point of the season while Guatemala has three points after two games. During the September games, the Chapines were extremely outstanding, coming back from a 0-3 loss at home to Panama to win 3-2 in Panama in the second encounter between the two sides.

Guatemala can tie Panama on points with a win over the Reggae Girlz, but the Jamaicans can’t afford that at this time. The Reggae Girlz must now win their next three games to qualify for the inaugural 12-team Women’s Gold Cup, which will be held in southern California in February and March 2024 and will feature eight Concacaf teams and four Conmebol teams.

“It [this match against Guatemala] is going to be just as tough. I don’t think it is going to be an easier game, but with the experience gained from the first game, a lot of the butterflies and jitters would have gone. We should be a little bit more comfortable executing our game plan,” Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer.

“In the first game [against Panama] we managed to give up an own goal, and they [Panama] didn’t really score or break us down in creating goalscoring opportunities. Their shots were mostly opportunities from set pieces, but we managed what we could manage given the circumstances, and unfortunately, we didn’t come away with anything.

“We have to applaud the ladies for how well they acquitted themselves. Coming into this match, we are concerned about any injury worries at this moment, but we are getting in the work to ensure that we come out with a positive result from the game,” Gilbert further added.

Jamaica’s women are the most successful side in Caribbean football history, having qualified for two consecutive World Cups — the only Caribbean nation to do so.

The Reggae Girlz reached the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup this summer in Australia/New Zealand before falling to Colombia by a goal. In Women’s Gold Cup qualifying, they are currently at the bottom of their group.

But, according to Gilbert, the Reggae Girlz have been practising hard in preparation for this encounter, and this could be the start of better things to come.

“We have done our homework as usual, and we have managed to watch them [Guatemala] a couple of times and assess where we think they are strong and also areas where we can exploit. And going forward, they are potent, they like to strike from all areas of the park, and that’s something that we are to be mindful of.

“We just have to make sure we curtail their strength going forward and exploit their weaknesses as well. The important thing is to, like in the first game, try and see if we can get through the first phase of the game without conceding any goals. And if we are in front, we have to manage going forward, and that is going to be critical in terms of how we manage the game,” Gilbert explained.

Gilbert stated that with 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup veteran Marlo Sweatman arriving in time for the second game, the Reggae Girlz set-up is well-bolstered for this vital match on home soil. “Marlo Sweatman is going to join us for the game and she will be a part of the squad, [and] she will add some experience inside the middle of the park and that’s good,” Gilbert went on to say.

Sweatman, who plays for Hungary’s Viktoria Haladas football club, says she is in good shape and ready to go.

“I am very happy to be here. I am playing in Hungary, where we are one of the top teams in the middle of the pack right now, but we are working our way to the top. I have been playing attacking midfield and scoring a lot of goals, and I feel like I am in good form.

“Yes, I think this is a very young team, and so I will bring in a lot of experience and some leadership, especially in the midfield as well as off the field, to help them grow as players and as people off the field as well,” Sweatman said.

League A is divided into three three-team groups. The champions will automatically qualify for the Women’s Gold Cup, while the runners-up will compete in the play-offs. They will set up make-or-break matches with the winners of three four-team League B groups, with the play-off winners securing a spot in the competition.