Cubans blank Jamaican girls 3-0

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's female hockey team went down 0-3 to Caribbean neighbours Cuba in the opening match of their three-game Pan American Games qualifying series at the Mona hockey field yesterday.

Marisble Sierra scored twice for the Cubans in the second half of the match after a 0-0 first half. She netted her team's second goal in the 38th and completed the scoring in the 57th. Yuraima Vera got Cuba's opening goal in the 36th minute.

Hilario Diaz, coach of Cuba, said he was delighted with his team's performance. "The game was a good for us and I think that on Saturday we will win again," said Diaz.

"Our problem was rain because this is not good for the game. Our team is very quick and when there is a lot of water on the ground then it is difficult for us to play," Diaz said.

Very unhappy

Meanwhile, Jamaica's coach, Dr Michelle Holt, was very unhappy with her team's performance.

"I am very disappointed because we didn't want to lose this first game, but I think that what Cuba showed us is that they are pretty fit, strong and tactically good in every department," said Dr Holt. "We have to admit today that we were outplayed in every department by the Cubans.

"I thought that our defence stood up well at first, but I believe those two early goals at the beginning of the second half really set us back a long way."

Dr Holt added: "We didn't absorb the pressure well. I think that we became intimidated by their powerful runs and I believe that there is more that we could have done today in terms of our efforts."

Dominating the first half

The Jamaicans began the match confidently, as they came close to scoring in the eighth minute, but Kerry-Ann Russell fired her shot wide of the Cuban goal. The Cubans dominated the remainder of the first half and in the process squandered a number of open chances. Helec Carta, Yeney Casas and Sierra were all guilty of missing for the Cubans.

Vera gave the visitors the lead in the opening minute of the second period, when she slotted a close-range effort past goalkeeper Therese McIntosh. Sierra doubled her team's lead two minutes later, when she collected a through pass from Damnay Solis inside Jamaica's goal area to fire home past McIntosh.

Sierra then put the issue beyond doubt 19 minutes later, when she scored her team's third goal of the match.

The second and third games will be played tomorrow and Sunday at the same venue, starting at 4 p.m. each day. The winners of the series will qualify for the next year's Pan American Games, which will be held in Mexico.