Young Girlz complete 3-0 series win over T&T.
By Livingston Scott (Jamaica Observer).
Jamaica's Under-20 Reggae Girlz scored a 3-1 win over Trinidad & Tobago, at Drax Hall on Sunday, for a three-nil series win over the twin-island republic.
Teshian Thomas in the 14th and 72nd minutes netted a brace for the Girlz and Tasheka Gordon (51st) got the other. Karen Forbes (75th) got the visitors' lone goal.
Wily striker Thomas gave the host an early lead in the match when she broke loose and slipped the ball past Kimika Forbes.
However, despite some good play from the home team, the Trinidadians gave a good account of themselves for the remainder of the half.
But the visitors fell 0-2 six minutes into the second-half when Sashana Campbell's corner was poorly cleared by the Trinidad defence and central defender and captain Gordon capitalised and fired past Forbes from the edge of the six-yard area.
The young Girlz then wasted good opportunities through Semone Honeghan and Thomas.
But the latter added her second of the afternoon and Jamaica's third when she latched onto a pass from strike partner Honeghan and fired past the advancing Forbes from 12 yards.
The Trinis pulled a consolation goal three minutes later when the lanky Forbes was given too much room on top of the box and the impressive midfielder slammed an unstoppable shot past Sashagay Spence in goal, from 25 yards.
Kamile Degale should have pulled another goal back for Trinidad, but her effort hit the upright and ran across the face of goal before being cleared by the Jamaican defence, while Vanessa Ramsey failed to capitalise on a good build-up between Nesa Ralph and Thomas on the right.
Jamaica's coach Vin Blaine said he was pleased to win the series, but noted that he has identified some weaknesses they need to work on.
"We won all three games, but this one was a bit tougher... We brought in some changes because we wanted to see how the girls perform in certain positions. But we won 3-1, and we'll go home with that," he said.
"We have to get them fit because they are not up to standard as far as endurance is concerned, so that is the area we will concentrate on before we go to the tournament," he added.
Trinidad's Jamaal Shabazz said it was a good learning experience for his team.
"This was an important trip for us and we want to thank Captain Burrell (Horace) and Jack Warner for making this trip possible.
"This will give us an opportunity to assess our players, who have been in training for the last three weeks, against a high level opponent," he said.
U-20 Girls still need work says JA coach.
By: Radio Jamaica.
Although recently completing a 3-0 whitewash of their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts, coach of Jamaica's under-20 female football team Vin Blaine, says the young Reggae Girls still have a lot of work to do before the Caribbean zone CONCACAF qualifying series gets underway on August 23.
The under-20 girls swept Trinidad and Tobago in their three encounters winning the games 4-1, 2-0 and 3-1.
However Coach Blaine says the team still needs to work on certain key areas.
"We need some more organization in our backline and in the midfield but the area most in need of work is our movement off the ball. We need to continuously be moving, not just waiting to see what happens ... to become proactive rather than reactive," he said.
The young Reggae Girls returned to camp Monday and will be departing the country for Dominica for the Caribbean Zone CONCACAF qualifying series on August 21.
They will begin their campaign two days after arriving in Dominica playing against the Turks and Caicos Islands.
