PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Jamaica’s Under-20 female footballers made a winning start to the final round of the CFU World Cup qualifiers with a hard-fought result over a surprisingly strong Cuban side at the Marvin Lee Stadium here yesterday.

Sashana Campbell scored the only goal after 11 minute, although the Young Girlz wasted a number of easy chances despite playing second-fiddle to the Cubans for most of the game.

“It was a tough game; the Cubans were better than I thought and they have some technically gifted players,” noted Jamaica’s coach Vin Blaine.

“But we had chances we should have put away, because with a 1-0 lead you’re always under pressure,” Blaine added.

The veteran coach said much more work needs to be done before their next match tomorrow.

“Our finishing let us down, but we also turned over the ball too often,” Blaine lamented.

The Jamaicans had the first chance of the game after only four minutes into the match when Sashana Campbell was played through down the right and with only goalkeeper Katherine Hidalgo to beat, elected to pass to Teashian Thomas, who slipped and placed the ball wide from point-blank range.

The Cubans, who showed they were no pushovers, roared back a minute later when Yoana Gonsalvez broke away. But she made the angle bad for herself and kicked into the side-netting.

The Jamaicans took the lead in the 11th minute following hard work from Jamila Campbell-Henny and Toni Cowan on the right.

The ball eventually found its way to Campbell, who netted from six yards, and though Hidalgo scrambled the ball back into play, the midfielder converted again to ensure the goal.

But the Cubans remained undaunted and immediately after the restart, Maria Torres smashed a half-volley from 30 yards that just missed the upright.

Then in the 27th, Gonsalves latched onto a pass inside the box, but her tame shot was easily saved by Shena Wint in goal.

Torres, Rachel Ellis and Gonsalves were Cuba’s biggest threats and in the 31st the latter kicked wide from inside the box after a poor clearance from the Jamaican defence.

But the Girlz dominated the last 10 minutes of the half, with Cathryn Rogers hitting a superb shot just wide in the 36th.

Thomas wasted a double opportunity to find the net three minutes later. Her first shot was blocked by Hidalgo, and when the rebound fell kindly to her, she placed the ball past the upright.

Rogers forced Hidalgo to make good stop in the 43rd with a low drive from the edge of the box, while Honeghan hit the crossbar in the final minute of the half after Hidalgo dropped a free kick from Campbell.

The Cubans came out looking even more purposeful in the second half, and 53 minutes into the match, Zovel Hyre had to make a hurried clearance to prevent Yezenie Martinez from running through on goal.

However, after withstanding the Cuban onslaught for the first 15 minutes of the second half, the Reggae Girlz should have scored in the 69th minute, but Campbell slipped the ball wide with only Hidalgo to beat.

A minute later, defenders Hyre and Shushana Dobson combined, but the latter kicked her effort high from six-yard box after Hyre’s headed pass.

At half-time in the feature match at the venue, hosts Trinidad and Tobago were leading St Kitts and Nevis 3-0.

The Jamaicans will meet St Kitts in their second game at the same venue tomorrow.

Teams:

Jamaica – Shena Wint, Shushana Dobson, Zovel Hyre, Tasheka Small, Semone Honeghan (Kemesha Woodfine 45th), Shereen Clarke (cpt), Sashana Campbell, Cathryn Rogers (Trudi Carter 69th), Teashian Thomas, Jamila Campbell-Henny, Toni Cowan (Shanise Foster 46th).

Subs not used: N Nugent, S Spence, T Gordon, N Ralph.

Cuba – Katerine Hidalgo, Yamara Carrazana, Jessica Alverez, Mirianela Chacon, Yenezia Martinez (cpt), Yaremi Ramirez, Rachel Ellis, Maria Torres (Maydoni Gonsalvez 83rd), Anay Lescaille, Yaima Aguila,Yoana Gonsalves (Lorraine More 69th).

Subs not used: R Goicochea, L Rguez, Y Noro, L Rguez, L Marquez.

Referee: Sabina Charles-Kirton

Assistants: Hariette Charles-Joseph, Cindy Mohammed

Fourth Official: Shane De Silva

Match Commissary: Victor Daniel