Edinburg, USA — Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz made a strong claim to confirm their semi-final berth in the Concacaf Women’s Championship with a 9-0 beating of Cuba in their final Group B fixture at HEB Park yesterday.

The Girlz were led by a fine three-timer from Jody Brown (26th, 38th, 72nd), with Sashana Campbell (30th, 75th), picking up a brace. Khadija Shaw (second), Deneisha Blackwood (50th), Christina Chang (64th) and substitute Marlo Sweatman (82nd) got the others.

With the win, the Jamaicans jumped to second in the group on six points, same as leaders Canada, who have a superior goal difference.

As a result of the Jamaican scoreline, third-placed Costa Rica (three points) who were scheduled to face Canada in feature game of the double-header later, would have to win by two clear goals to progress ahead of the Reggae Girlz.

The top two teams from the group will join defending champions United States and Panama in the semi-finals in Frisco, Texas, on Sunday.

It was a positive start by the Jamaicans, who were hunting a wide margin of victory and they quickly opened the scoring early when the prolific Shaw converted a well-taken free kick from approximately 20 yards out.

They created a few good openings within the first 15 minutes, but were wasteful in the final third and as such had to wait until the 26th minute to double the lead.

A tidy build-up orchestrated by Chinyelu Asher opened the door for Shaw to lay off a pass for Brown, who easily slotted home.

The third came on the half hour mark when Shaw again got involved in a good one-two combination with Chang before picking out Campbell, who made no mistake at the far post.

After camping out in Cuba’s half like a pack of wolves, the Jamaicans eventually extended the lead when Asher slipped a through pass in for Brown to fire past the hapless Katherine Montesino in goal for Cuba to make it 4-0 at the break.

The Reggae Girlz continued the press for more goals on the resumption, and found another five minutes in when Blackwood converted from the penalty spot after Shaw was dragged down inside the area by Sucel Maceo.

Jamaica suffered a slight scare a minute past the hour mark, when goalkeeper Nicole McClure diving to her left to save a ball, slammed into the upright, but quickly recovered to continue.

Chang then got her name on the score sheet in the 64th as she was well positioned to fire in a loose ball that bounced over the head of the defenders.

Eight minutes later, the diminutive Brown completed her treble when right back Chantelle Swaby went on a dazzling solo run before whipping in a cross for her to finish.

And the Jamaicans pushed further ahead two minutes later after Shaw, who seemed content with playing provider throughout the game, served up another low cross for Campbell to rifle in and complete her brace.

The route was completed when substitutes Lauren Silver and Sweatman combined with the latter finishing off the build-up.

Though dominant in possession, the Jamaicans failed to make it really count as poor decision-making and faulty shooting denied them a much wider margin of victory.

Teams: Jamaica — Nicole McClure, Konya Plummer, Toriana Patterson, Sashana Campbell (Lauren Silver 80th), Jody Brown, Khadija Shaw (Ashleigh Shim 76th), Deneisha Blackwood, Chinyelu Asher, Jadyn Matthews, Chantelle Swaby, Christina Chang (Marlo Sweatman 71st)

Subs not used: Sydney Schneider, Allyson Swaby, Dominique Bond-Flasza, Giselle Washington, Trudi Carter

Booked: Silver (90th+1)

Cuba — Katherine Montesino, Jessica Pupo Alvarez, Yarisleidy Mena, Yaremis Fuentes (Laura Marquez 64th), Maristania Mengana, Yoana Gonzalez, Rachel Pelaez, Lilian Perez, Zailin Rodriguez, Sucel Maceo (Lizandra Gonzalez 60th), Dianelis Carbonell (Yeranis Lee 62nd)

Subs not used: Lucylena Martinez, Wendy Corcho

Booked: Rodriguez (84th)

Referee: Crystal Sobers (TRI)

Assistant referees: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA); Felisha Mariscal (USA)

Fourth official: Melissa Paola Borjas (HON)

Match commissary: Monique Andre (HAI