Reggae Girlz Out of CONCACAF contention
The Jamaicans fought doggedly to lead one nil, but could not curb a Mexican comeback that dashed their hopes of a first time World Cup qualification at the RFK Memorial Stadium.
Sandra Stephany Mayor netted an equaliser after Donnakay Henry put the Jamaicans ahead early, in a group B tussle Jamaica needed to win while Mexico only required a draw for a semi-final berth.
Veronica Charlyn Corral struck for two goals within a 17-minute span in the second half to swing the momentum of the game for Mexico who became the final team to secure a semifinal spot in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
Jamaica took a 1-0 lead against the run of play in the ninth minute.
Henry was fed a ball down the right flank as she sped into the penalty area ahead of defender Alina Garcia Mendez and brilliantly placed a curling, 15-yard shot into the far left corner.
It was Henry’s third goal after striking twice in a 6-0 win over Martinique.
Mexico found the equaliser in the 29th minute after Nicole McClure fumbled with a slippery ball off Monica Ocampo’s left-wing cross on a rainy and chilly night.
Sandra Stephany Mayor, standing four yards away, slotted it home for her second goal of the tournament.
Corral, the all-time leading CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship scorer (14 goals), took over in the second half.
Kenti Robles found the 23-year-old with a crisp right-wing cross that Corral side-volleyed to the far post for a 2-1 advantage in the 59th minute.
Corral gave Mexico – which hit the woodwork twice in the game — some breathing room in the 76th minute, firing in a 15-yard effort for a 3-1 lead.
The Reggae Girlz ended with three points while Costa Rica topped the group with nine points after wins over Mexico, Jamaica and Martinique.
United States and Trinidad & Tobago were the teams to move on from Group A.
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