Young Reggae Girlz suffer heartbreak
Late goal throttles under-20s’ Concacaf progress, Nicaragua through
Published:Tuesday | February 25, 2025 | 12:13 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter -
ENTERING THE final game of the Concacaf Women’s U20 Qualifiers needing a win to advance, the U20 Reggae Girlz fell just short after a late equaliser from Adriana Munguia earned Nicaragua a 1-1 draw at the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua yesterday.
Andrene Smith’s goal in the 43rd minute gave Jamaica the lead before Munguia levelled the score from a free kick in the 88th.
The result means Jamaica finished second in Group D with seven points, tied with Nicaragua, who took the group honours with a better goal difference.
It was an attacking start for the young Reggae Girlz as they forced Nicaragua onto the defensive during the game’s early exchanges.
The Reggae Girlz got their first real sniff at goal in the ninth minute of play when a brilliant cross from Smith found Alyssa Stephenson in the box.
Stephenson could not convert, however, as her one-time effort crashed off the crossbar and was swiftly cleared off the line.
Tiny Seaton came close to scoring minutes later when she outpaced her marker to latch on to a ball over the top. However, the opportunity was closed down by the quickly advancing Nicaraguan goalkeeper.
The Central Americans would grow into the game and had their fair share of opportunities as both teams traded periods of pressure in the first half.
Smith broke the deadlock, finding the opener out of the blue with a rasping shot just before the half-time whistle.
Taking the ball down on her chest, she swivelled on her right foot to strike a volley with her left that rocketed in just over the head of the goalkeeper.
Nicaragua would turn on the pressure in the second half, hunting for the equaliser and for a second, the hosts felt they had pulled level when a cross sent to the back post was headed into the side netting.
Stephenson would reply with an effort of her own just past the hour mark but her long-range effort sailed just high.
Maya Raghunandanan would also test the Nicaraguan goalkeeper from distance, this time in the 80th minute, with a shot that was inches wide of the near post.
With minutes left on the clock, Nicaragua found the equaliser to decide the group winners as a free kick from Munguia gave the hosts the all-important point.
In the group’s earlier match, St Vincent and the Grenadines clipped St Kitts and Nevis 1-0 to take the third spot with three points.
St Kitts finished their campaign at the foot of the group without a point.