Jamaica, Costa Rica renew rivalry in Olympic race
MONTERREY, Mexico — The Reggae Girlz have one last chance at Olympic Games football glory as they go into battle against Costa Rica in the third-place encounter at the Concacaf Women’s Championship here today.
Jamaica will be in action at 6:00 pm at the Estadio BBVA before the United States of America and Canada square off in the championship match at 9:00 pm.
Concacaf has been designated two spots for the 2024 Olympic Games with the champion securing one spot and the second and third-placed teams going into a playoff in September next year to secure the second spot.
Jamaica and Costa Rica met twice in October last year with the first, a practice game, ending 1-0 in favour of the Reggae Girlz. However, they were unable to repeat the feat in the official friendly contest and were held to a goalless stalemate by the Costa Ricans, who played most of the contest with 10 players.
In both games, the Jamaicans dominated proceedings and that will be a confidence-booster for the Lorne Donaldson-coached Reggae Girlz entering today’s game.
The Jamaican team, which has been battling minor injuries, should welcome back top striker Khadija Shaw, who missed the semi-final game against Canada in which the Reggae Girlz lost 0-3.
“She is a massive part of what we do,” said Donaldson.
“Obviously she scores a lot of goals for us and hopefully we have her back,” he added.
Shaw is Jamaica’s all-time top scorer with 54 goals and a lot depends on her readiness and fitness.
“We are not there yet, like most teams who can miss a player like that and still be as effective,” Donaldson pointed out.
“We just have to go out there and give it our best shot,” he reiterated.
Shaw is expected to form the usual front line, with Trudi Carter and Jody Brown flanking her, while the impressive Drew Spence is again expected to lead the midfield charge alongside Havana Solaun and Chinyelu Asher.
The solid Satara Murray, Chantelle Swaby, Allyson Swaby and Deneisha Blackwood should form that defensive line in front of the impressive Rebecca Spencer in goal.
With both her strike partners Shaw and Carter scoring in the tournament, young Jody Brown is not phased having not scored as yet and the stage might just be set for her to deliver.
“I am just trying to maintain my focus and try to win the game for the team. It’s not about me, but whatever I can do to help the team, I will do it,” said Brown.
The 20-year-old striker of Florida State University has 10 goals from 16 matches for the senior Reggae Girlz and a combined 24 goals for the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 teams.
“The mood is very good. Everyone is ready to just go out there and compete. This is the last game, so we know what’s ahead of us. We just have to go out there and compete, give it our best shot and try to get a win,” she added,