Sanjay Myers | Jamaica Observer
Jamaica advanced to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Cup, sweeping to an emphatic 7-0 victory over the hosts Dominican Republic at the Estadio Panamericano here yesterday.
After brushing aside St Lucia 14-0 on Wednesday, the Reggae Girlz eased to another convincing victory to top Group Five with six points. The Dominican Republic ended with three, while St Lucia finished without a point.
Anguilla, originally the fourth team in the group, pulled out of the tournament days before it began.
Yesterday, Jamaica’s striker Shakira Duncan scored four times (3rd, 23rd, 64th, and 77th minutes) against Dominican Republic to end the competition with eight goals in two matches.
Omolyn Davis, who missed a penalty in the 88th minute, hit a brace with strikes in the 32nd and 90th.
Donna-Kay Henry, making her second start for Jamaica, blasted in the other goal in the 42nd minute.
Jamaica’s head coach Merron Gordon said his team “moved the ball around well” against “a fighting Dom Rep” outfit. He praised his players for scoring 21 goals and not conceding any.
The Jamaicans went ahead only three minutes into the encounter when Davis slipped a neat pass for Duncan to slot past Dominican Republic’s goalkeeper Isairis Minaya.
The Jamaicans proceeded to settle into a smooth passing game, forcing the hosts to chase the ball in warm, sunny conditions.
They went two goals up when a floated diagonal pass from the left by Monique Pryce ended with Duncan lobbing the advancing ‘keeper in the 23rd minute.
It was 3-0 nine minutes later when a good build-up between Henry, Khedine Salmon and Davis put the latter through on goal to squeeze home.
Henry powered into the box and fired home a left-footer from close range in the 42nd to give the Girlz a 4-0 lead at the half- time break.
Though trailing by such a wide margin, the home team battled tooth and nail in the second period.
But Duncan scored her third of the afternoon, eluding two defenders to score with a silky individual effort in the 64th minute.
She followed with another in the 77th, rifling in a right-footer to end a second straight game with four goals.
Jamaica won a penalty kick when substitute Kenesha Reid was fouled, but Davis hit the upright from the spot in the 88th minute.
She made amends one minute into time added with a tap-in from close range.
The finals of the CFU Cup is to be played among eight teams in Trinidad & Tobago from August 19 to 26 of this year.
Teams: Dominican Republic — Isairis Minaya, Franyeli Brasoban (Jocelyn Rodriquez 58th), Carmen Polanco, Lissy Sanchez, Diana Santana, Loida Michel de Jesus, Yaqueisi Nunez, Betzaida Ubri (Gabriela Pena 55th), Winibian Peralta, Gladys Loyas, Ana Diaz (Eskarkina Chalas 87th)
Subs not used: Yelandy Contreras, Evalaynne Alcequiez, Yaritza Adames, Gabrella Sosa
Booked: Sanchez (44th)
Jamaica — Nicole McClure, Alicia Wilson, Sherona Forrester (Myjnairii Perkins 78th), Monique Pryce, Mitsy Facey, Nicole Campbell, Omolyn Davis, Donna-Kay Henry (Alexa Allen 69th), Sashana Campbell, Khedine Salmon (Kenesha Reid 66th), Shakira Duncan.
Subs not used: Olivia Reid, Christina Murry, Jodi-Ann McGregor, Amy Loughran
Booked: None
Referee: Irazema Aguilera (Cuba)
Assistant Referees: Katherine Jimenez (Costa Rica), Nereida Diaz (Cuba)
Fourth Official: Ania Navarrete (Cuba)
Match Commissary: Gwendolyn Salmon (Antigua)