Reggae Girlz clip Paraguay with last-gasp winner

WESTERN BUREAU:

Presented with the captain’s armband when skipper Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw made her departure before the hour mark, Alysson Swaby took up the mantle and slammed in a goal in injury-time for Jamaica to beat Paraguay 1-0 in their international friendly football match at Catherine Hall Stadium on Thursday night.

“I think some of Bunny’s juice in here rubbed off on me, “ Swaby said with a laugh while pointing to the captain's armband.

“It’s my first goal for Jamaica and I’ve was played a lot of matches,” Swaby continued. “It was a massive goal. I was in the right place at the right time. “

Jamaica created enough scoring chances to have secured a much easier win.

However, on all occasions, but one, they were thwarted by the brilliance of Paraguay goalkeeper Alicia Bobadilla, who made a series of outstanding saves.

Thrice in the first half captain Khadija Shaw, the Women’s Super League Player of the Month in England, backed up incisive passing from her teammates with superior all-round qualities of pace and skill, to put on finishes that looked like certain goals until Bobadilla’s intervention.

Firstly, at the 16th, Shaw powered goal wards a left-footed drive off an opportunity generated by Paige Bailey Gayle’s cross, but the keeper made an astounding save from six yards.

Then Siobhan Wilson played through Shaw at the 25th, and the Jamaica and Manchester City ace powered away from the central defenders for a one on one. However, an over-dribble gave Bobadilla a sniff and she raced of her line to snuff out the chance.

There was more brilliance from Shaw two minutes later, with a beautiful control between the centre halves off Deneisha Blackwood’s pin-point pass. The striker let fly, but had no luck as the ball beat the goalie for once but hammered into the cross bar.

Before the half ended, at the 44th minute, Jamaica had one more chance to break the deadlock, but Bobadilla, again, kept out Drew Spence’s grounded effort from an angle, with Bailey Gayle again the provider.

“It’s always good to get a goal and a win, the fans wanted that, “ said Reggae Girlz head coach, Lorne Donaldson.

“I just thought we missed too many chances. The Paraguayan are a very organised team, and some of our players are playing for a spot, so there’s some competition. They came in and showed us what they can do. “

The Jamaicans were using the game as preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and was the first of two friendly internationals here against the Paraguayans. The second is slated for Sunday at the National Stadium in Kingston.

On Thursday night, Paraguay never created a scoring chance, for the entire first half, this due to the positioning, tackling and general organisation of Jamaica’s defence.

However, the overwhelming ratio of scoring chances in the first half did not truly reflect the run of play as the game was quite competitive and full of passion, especially in the middle of the park where a real dogfight ensued.

Paraguay were quite pesky and did a lot of shirt and shorts pulling to make up in areas where they were lacking in strength and pace.

But even then, the Reggae Girlz were always a cut above, especially at the offensive end where they should’ve had a lead by half-time.

Almost immediately after the interval, the much-loved Jamaica team were denied a lead at the 48th minute, but Bailey Paige’s effort was turned wide of the near post.

Jamaica made a series of substitutions, replacing several English-based club stars, but still managed to hold the offensive edge.

Yet still, Paraguay came closest to scoring twice, with two shots from a goalmouth melee blocked on the goal line, and goalie Sydney Schneider, who replaced Rebecca Spencer at half-time, making a diving, reflex save off Ramona Martinez’s angled shot.

The home team was not fazed by those chances and kept fighting to the end, until Swaby’s last-gasp winner.

“It’s been awhile that we’ve played together, “ said Donaldson. “I’m happy that we got the win. “

audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com