REGGAE Girl Marlo Sweatman recognises the squad’s need to enhance their goalscoring ability, defensive composure, and team cohesiveness in order for the team to make it to the 2024 Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup in the United States.

The Reggae Girlz were held to a 2-2 draw by Guatemala in their Group B game on Sunday at National Stadium in Kingston. Leslie Ramirez put Guatemala ahead in the 28th minute but Melissa Johnson equalised for Jamaica in the 32nd, beating goalkeeper Alexia Estrada.

Zoe Vidaurre put the Reggae Girlz ahead in the 52nd minute, but the lead lasted only four minutes before Aisha Solorzano equalised in the 56th.

“Yeah, I think we need to improve on our chances in front of goal, finish off our chances, and be a little more patient in the build-up as well and being a little bit calmer in the back. But I think we are on the right track,” the 28-year-old Sweatman told the Jamaica Observer.

Sweatman also discussed the club’s performance, deeming it commendable for a young team with limited training.

“I think the performance was okay for a young team, for a team that we haven’t really been long together. We only had three training sessions, and then a few of us came in late. I think it was a decent performance. We would have been happier with three points but we’ll be satisfied with one,” she said.

Sweatman has not played for Jamaica’s senior women’s team since the 2019 Fifa World Cup, however she expressed pride in playing for Jamaica despite her disappointment at not making the last World Cup team to Australia/New Zealand in the summer.

“It’s always an honour to play for Jamaica [but] it was sad I didn’t make the World Cup team. But I worked on myself, I worked on some things to make me become a better player, and I’m just always happy and honoured to represent my country,” she said.

The tie left Jamaica at the bottom of the three-team group with one point from two games while Panama lead with six points from three games — two more than Guatemala who have four points from three games as well. The Jamaicans have two games remaining, and a win in both would put them through.

“Nothing is impossible. As you saw, we are a hard-fighting team, and anyone who gets called up is going to do their best. We may have started out slow but I think we will be able to pull it through,” said Sweatman who qualified to play for Jamaica through her mother.