MIAMI, Florida – Jamaica’s Reggae Girls missed out on a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Guatemala, in a must-win qualifier on Sunday.
Playing in Guatemala City, the Jamaicans fell behind to Ana Martínez’s tenth minute penalty, and found themselves trailing by the same scoreline at the break.
Davia Richards responded with the equaliser in the 66th minute but with time ticking down in the 90th, watched as goalkeeper Alexia Estrada saved her 25-yard free kick.
The result meant Jamaica finished bottom of Group B of League A with three points, Panama ending top on seven points and Guatemala second on five.
“I think it was a tough game. I didn’t think we executed as best as we could and should have, especially in the first half,” said head coach Xavier Gilbert.
“In the second half we were a lot better, more aggressive and played with a sense of purpose [after] we got that goal.
“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t advance but nevertheless, I’m proud and happy about the way we executed in the second half.”
He added: “It’s a learning curve for all the players, young and inexperienced at this level but I think they gave it their all and I’m proud and happy with the way they executed.”
Jamaica had the worst possible start at the Estadio Nacional Doroteo Guamuch Flores when Lauren Reid clipped Martínez in the box and the 33-year-old subsequently sent the resulting spot kick wide of goalkeeper Serena Mensah’s reach.
It was Mensah, however, who kept Jamaica in the contest when she tipped Andrea Álvarez 30-hard drive over the crossbar in the 35th minute, as the hosts continued to hunt for a second goal.
When Richards poked home a loose ball from just inside the box following a defensive mistake, the Reggae Girls seemed in with a shout but the 19-year-old forward then failed to beat Estrada with her late free kick.
In League B, Guyana thrashed Antigua and Barbuda 3-0 in Paramaribo, to finish top of Group A with 15 points and advance to the Gold Cup preliminaries.
Dominica, meanwhile, suffered a 11-0 annihilation at the hands of Suriname at the same venue in the same group, Katoucha Patra netting a hat-trick and Cady Chin-See-Chong adding a brace.
Grenada were also in winners’ row in Group C of League C, Melania Fullerton (65th) and Roneisha Frank (79th) scoring in the space of 15 minutes in the second half to lift them to a 2-0 win over US Virgin Islands in St Croix.
The win was Grenada’s fourth in as many outings leaving them top of the group on 12 points.
