Spain’s red fury too much for Girlz
Published:Friday | February 17, 2023 | 12:52 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Jamaica’s first international meeting with Spain saw an impressive attacking and passing display from the European team.
They put the Reggae Girlz under extreme pressure and the Jamaican team went down 3-0 in their Cup of Nations Tournament opener at the Industree Group Stadium in Gosford, Australia.
Maite Oroz opened the scoring in the 18th minute from close range, and Esther Gonzalez doubled their advantage in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Second-half substitute Fiamma Benitez extended the lead in the 78th minute to complete the victory in a game where the Spanish dominated possession and Jamaica had few opportunities to test the defence as they had to weather the offensive storm early.
With the team having to reshuffle because of injuries and other reasons, head coach Lorne Donaldson gave British-born defender Victoria Williams her international debut at centre-back. Also in defence were newly signed Paris Saint Germain player Allyson Swaby along with her sister Chantelle and Tierney Wiltshire. Tottenham’s Drew Spence took over captaining duties for the team in the absence of Khadija Shaw, who withdrew from the tournament citing personal reasons.
Spain, the seventh-best team in the world according to the FIFA world rankings, wasted no time in going on the offensive as early as the 13th minute when Claudia Zomoza unleashed a long-range effort that forced goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer into an early save. The dam would finally break in the 18th when Zomoza fired another long-range effort off the bar, which fell to the feet of Oroz, who finished the play for the opener. From there, Jamaica were on the defensive as they had to survive wave after wave of Spanish chances, with Gonzales volleying a shot wide and Marta Cardona firing a shot wide.
Jamaica’s best chance of the half came in the closing stages when Paige Bailey Gayle’s free-kick was initially latched on to by Kayla McKenna, and the rebound fell to Allyson Swaby, but her shot trickled wide of the target. It would be a chance that they would regret not taking as Gonzalez got behind the Jamaican backline and slotted the ball past Spencer to double their lead.
BRILLIANT STRIKE
The Reggae Girlz thought that their problems would mount 15 minutes into the second half when the referee initially awarded a penalty after Eva Navarra went down in the box, however, after consultation, the decision was reversed. But Spain would get their goal 12 minutes before the end as Benitez, who came close in the 70th minute, would get her reward, curling a brilliant strike into the top corner. The Reggae Girlz only had 26 per cent of the possession and had two shots during the 90 minutes with one on target compared to Spain’s 18 shots with five on target. Jamaica will face the Czech Republic tomorrow in their second game in Sydney. The Czech Republic were blanked 4-0 in their tournament opener by hosts Australia. The tournament is being used as preparation for this summer’s Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Jamaica: Rebecca Spencer, Allyson Swaby, Victoria Williams (Rachel Jones 46th minute), Chantelle Swaby, Denisha Blackwood, Tierny Wiltshire, Drew Spence (Vyan Sampson 62nd), Atlanta Primus, Paige Bailey-Gayle (Tiffany Cameron 74th minute, Kayla McKenna (Trudi Carter 62nd minute), Cheyna Williams (Kameron Simmonds 62nd)