HAVANA, Cuba — Jamaica’s Under-20 women’s team scored a hard-fought 2-0 win over hosts Cuba at the Pedro Marrero Estadio yesterday to advance to the final round of the CFU World Cup Qualifiers by topping Group A.

Goals in either half by Kedine Salmon and Sasalee Cooper propelled the Reggae Girlz who finished with maximum six points from two matches.

Technical director Vin Blaine was pleased with the application of the team and gave full marks for their performance.

“Our aim was to top the zone, and we did that. We didn’t concede a goal,” he said.

“The Cubans were over confident… but we had a good talk with the girls after the St Lucia game and told them they would have to fight… in order to win… they came out and did that,” he added.

In an evenly-contested match, the teams battled for the ascendency in the opening 15 minutes.

Jamaica’s Shantel Bailey had the first real effort in the 10th minute, but her well-struck shot was saved by goalkeeper Katherine Montisino.

The Cubans countered almost immediately, but an alert Jamaican defence averted danger.

A few minutes later, Salmon stole possession deep in the Cuba half, but could not pick out the unmark Marlo Sweatman in the six-yard box.

In the 17th minute, Cuba came close when Maydoni Goitizola’s back-heeled pass sent Rachel Palaez clear, but goalkeeper Kedisha Cardoza was quick off her line to parry for a corner.

The Jamaicans also came close in the 24th, but Trudi Carter’s curling shot just missed the upright.

However, three minutes later the Jamaicans went ahead when captain Carter robbed a defender and fired a low shot across the face of goal for Salmon to stab home from close range.

The Jamaicans dominated for a spell, but the Cubans came storming back in the final 10 minutes of the half and were only denied by brilliant defending by Coorper and Toriana Patterson.

After the break, Cuba searched desperately for the equaliser and 10 minutes into the period, Lorainis Cruz was left unmarked at the back post, but her control let her down, with the goal at her mercy.

Two minutes late Cooper, who always looked dangerous on the set-plays, rose above the Cuban defence to head home a corner kick taken by Carter to put Jamaica 2-0 up.

The home team regrouped in the final 15 minutes and only two excellent saves by Cardoza, who was great between the sticks for Jamaica, thwarted the Cubans.

Jamaica — Kedisha Cadoza, Shanyce Shaw, Sasalee Cooper, Toriana Patterson, Shantel Bailey (Nicole Broderick 76th), Khadija Shaw (Garrian McKenzie 79th), Marlo Sweatman, Trudi Carter, Latoya Duhaney, Shenika Williams, Kedine Salmon (Sharika Ingram 86th).

Booked: Carter 65th.

Subs not used: M Bryan, L Wong, R Freeman, K Walker.

Cuba — Katherine Montisino, Indira Monzano, Yarisleidy Mena, Esmeralda Marcos (Roxana Galan 69th), Lorainis Cruz (Milagros Ramirez 85th), Laura Moreno, Rachel Palaez, Maria Perez, Goitizola Maydoni, Regla Ponce, Yoana Calderon.

Subs not used: O Bayeux, D Moreno, Y Tamayo, S Gutierez, W Martinez.

Referee: Alicia Villatoro (Gua)

Assistants: Lesbia Tzul (Guatemala), Nykasie Liverpool (Guyana)

Fourth Official: Ignatius Jao-Baptiste (Dominica)

Match Commisary: Amanda Rodrigues-Smith (USA)