Jamaica 2 – 3 Czech Republic: Defensive lapses cost Reggae Girlz at Cup of Nations
SYDNEY, Australia — Despite a much improved performance, Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz were again on the losing end at the Cup of Nations tournament, as they went down 2-3 to Czech Republic at the CommBank Stadium in Australia on Saturday.
The two up-and-coming women’s football nations were meeting for the first time in their history and in the end it was the 28th-ranked Europeans who secured the three points through goals from Andrea Staskova (24th), Kiara Cahynova (45+5) and substitute Alena Peckova (90th).
Still, the 44th-ranked Reggae Girlz, who got goals from Jody Brown (42nd) and 19-year-old Kameron Simmonds (55th), had nothing to be ashamed of, though shaky defending cost them a more positive result.
Head coach Lorne Donaldson made seven changes to the starting team that lost 0-3 to Spain on Thursday but still the Girlz were unsettled defensively and not only failed to put pressure on the ball, but also showed very little attacking intent at the start.
Their first real show of purpose came in the 13th minute when Chantelle Swaby’s long pass from the back found an unmarked Kameron Simmonds, who picked out Trudi Carter in the box, but the striker was crowded out by the Czech Republic defence.
Czech Republic kept probing and had their clearest look on goal in the 16th minute when a defensive mix-up allowed Kiara Cahynova to find Kiara Cvrckova open, but her left-footed drive from deep inside the 18-yard box went straight at Sydney Schneider.
It was only a matter of time before Czech Republic found the opener and it inevitably came from the penalty spot in the 24th minute courtesy of Staskova, who rammed home the 12-yard kick past Schneider after Kristyna Ruzickova was felled inside the danger area by Satara Murray.
They should have doubled the lead three minutes later, however, Michaela Khyrova steered her volleyed effort from Cvrckova’s cross wide of the upright.
As they gradually grew in confidence, the Girlz for the first time in the game enjoyed a decent passage of play which started with Simmonds finding space to force a diving save from Barbora Ruzickova from a letf-footed shot in the 28th minute.
Czech Republic again went close on the half-hour mark after Chantelle Swaby gave up possession to Khyrova, whose pass across the face of goal found Cvrckova, but a timely intervention by Tiernny Wiltshire forced the shot unto the crossbar.
In the 38th minute, Chantelle Swaby connected with Brown, who showed pace down the right channel but couldn’t apply the finish in the final third.
The Girlz’ best build up play, which started with Havana Solaun, ended with Trudi Carter placing a pass on platter for Brown, who fired home a delightful right footed effort from just inside the 18-yard box.
But just when they grabbed the momentum, the Girlz let it slip as Czech Republic regained the ascendancy on the stroke of half-time when Khyrova’s weighted corner was expertly headed in by Cahynova to put Czech 2-1 up at the break.
The introduction of 17-year-old Solai Washington in particular, at the start of the second half, brought life to the Girlz attacking front and they thought they had the equaliser five minutes into the resumption, but Washington’s goal was ruled offside.
In the 53rd, the fleet-footed Washington beared down on Czech Republic’s goal but had her shot blocked by a recovering defender.
Two minutes later, the Girlz were rewarded for applying consistent pressure, as Spence won possession deep in the Czech’s half and found Simmonds, who fired past Barbora Ruzickova to pull Jamaica level.
They could have gone in front in the 60th when Spence’s free kick was deflected in the path of another Victoria Williams, but the England-born centre-back couldn’t get her header on target.
After injecting some fresh legs, Czech Republic found a new gear and substitute Franny Cerna’s header, from Gabriela Slajsova’s cross, rattled the crossbar.
Like they did earlier in the contest, the Girlz lapsed in concentration at the back and it again proved costly as the Czechs eventually found the winner on the stroke of full time. Miroslava Mrazova’s pass across the box somehow found its way to Peckova at the far past for an easy tap in.
The Girlz will close the tournament against Australia on Wednesday, while Czech Republic will square off against Spain.
Teams: Jamaica -Sydney Schneider, Allyson Swaby, Satara Murray(Victoria Williams 46th), Tiernny Wiltshire, Chantelle Swaby, Vyan Sampson, Havana Solaun(Peyton McNamarra 46th), Drew Spence(Kalyssa Van Zanten 61st), Kameron Simmonds(Rachel Jones 61st) Trudi Carter(Solai Washington 46th), Jody Brown(Cheyna Matthews 68th)
Subs not used: Rebecca Spencer, Liya Brooks, Atlanta Primus, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Kayla McKenna, Tiffany Cameron, Deneisha Blackwood
Booked: Wiltshire (87th)
Czech Republic -Barbora Ruzickova, Aneta Dedinova, Petra Bertholdova Gabriela Slajsova, Michaela Khyrova(Anna Dlaskova 80th), Andrea Staskova(Lucie Martinkova 80th), Kristyna Ruzickova (Alena Peckova 71st), Barbora Polcarova (Antonie Starova 66th), Kiara Cahynova, Kiara Cvrckova(Miroslava Mrazova 66th), Denisa Vesela (Franny Cerna 71st)
Subs not used: Olivie Lukasova, Teresaz Fuchsova, Aneta Pochmanova, Jitka Chlastakova, Adela Radova, Simona Necidova
Booked: None
Referee: Rebecca Durcau (AUS)
Assistant referees: Sara Ho (AUS); Lauren Hargrave (AUS)
Fourth official: Lara Lee (AUS)
Match Commissary: Samuel Hickson