Reggae Girlz keep Olympic Games hopes alive
Published:Tuesday | July 19, 2022 | 12:17 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz have finished third at the Concacaf Women’s Championship for the second successive tournament after an extra time 1-0 win over Costa Rica in Monterrey, Mexico, last night.
Kalyssa Van Zanten scored the only goal in the 102nd minute to give the Jamaicans the victory and keep their dream of qualifying for a first Olympic Games alive.
The Reggae Girlz will now play the tournament runners-up in a two-way Olympics play-off tie next October to decide who joins the tournament champions in Paris 2024.
Costa Rica bossed the early possession and Daphne Herrera wasted a clear chance after only five minutes.
Jamaica had their moments but nothing to really trouble the Costa Ricans who continued to create the better openings but lacked the final execution.
Jamaica’s best chance came at the end of the half but Khadija Shaw could not connect with any power from six yards after a loose ball fell into her path.
In the first minute of the second half, Jamaica’s Drew Spence came close with a header from close range after a brilliant right-side cross from Shaw. But moments later Fabiola Villalobos put a great chance over from six yards for the Central Americans.
Jody Brown came the closest to scoring for Jamaica in the second half when she put her shot against the bar while Trudi Carter placed her effort just wide five minutes from the end.
Raquel Rodriguez almost stole the win for Costa Rica in added time but she put her effort off the post.
The deadlock remained unbroken after 90 minutes but Van Zanten fired the Girlz in front, moments after coming on in extra time, when she broke away and calmly slotted home.
The Lorne Donaldson-coached team then managed the remainder of the game to come away with a good win, only their second over the Costa Ricans in six head-to-head clashes.