The pursuit of a coveted spot in The CONCACAF W Gold Cup takes heart stage in League A as Jamaica faces Panama in a pivotal Group B conflict inside Kingston’s Nationwide Stadium on Wednesday at 7:00 pm.
For Panama, the mission is easy: safe all three factors and clinch the group’s high place, granting them passage to the 2024 W Gold Cup group stage. Nevertheless, a victory for Jamaica would open up the chance for all three groups within the group, together with Guatemala, to contend for the highest spot when the ultimate matchday unfolds on Sunday, that includes Guatemala in opposition to Jamaica in Guatemala Metropolis.
Panama will depend on their core group of playmakers to perform their goal. Riley Tanner has been prolific, tallying two targets from 9 photographs in Panama’s preliminary three matches, whereas Marta Cox has contributed with a objective and an help.
Lineth Cedeno notably delivered a vital late-winning objective in Panama’s 2-1 overcome Jamaica of their earlier encounter through the October window.
Then Jamaica led by way of Ricshya Walker after 21 minutes however an personal objective by Jamaican defender Alika Keene and a really late strike from Lineth Cedeno resulted in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory for Panama.
Backside of the three-team factors desk
They lead the group on six factors, following two wins and a loss in three video games, adopted by Guatemala with 4 factors comprising a win and a 2-2 draw with Jamaica of their final encounter, additionally in October. Jamaica sits on the backside of the three-team factors desk with a solitary level from a loss and a draw.
Jamaica, then again, will discipline a squad that boasts the three gamers who discovered the again of the web through the October window: Walker, Melissa Johnson, and Zoe Vidaurre. Mikayla Dayes leads the crew in shot makes an attempt with 4 and supplied the help for Walker’s objective in opposition to Panama.
Goalkeeper Aliyah Morgan demonstrated her prowess with two saves and two clearances within the first assembly with Panama.
The Jamaican Reggae Girlz are nonetheless with out the seasoned, skilled squad which led them to the Spherical of 16 finally summer season FIFA Girls’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, as they’ve but to resolve their battle with the native governing physique, the Jamaica Soccer Federation (JFF).
When the women declined the invite final month, it was thought by many who the variations would have been ironed out by now and the nation’s strongest crew would be capable of take to the sector in an effort to qualify for the W Gold Cup, that’s clearly not the case.
Enchantment to Jamaicans to assist the women
Nonetheless, interim head coach Xavier Gilbert desires followers to pour into the Nationwide Stadium and lend assist to his prices.
“It is crucial, and we hope that the followers will come out and cheer on the women to make sure that additional assist, help, and motivation will probably be there. I’m simply interesting to Jamaica to return out and assist the women. They really want the assist and hopefully, we will placed on a great present.”
Gilbert’s crew has seemed higher with every sport and Wednesday’s encounter ought to present one other alternative for them to show additional progress.
“The strategy is to be optimistic however to be good when it comes to how we strategy it as nicely, since you don’t need to be too optimistic then mishap occurs and then you definitely’re behind. We’re going to see if we will get one thing from the sport. It’s definitely not going to be straightforward, however however, I’m optimistic about our probabilities and what we will do.”
Excessive stakes and intense competitors
The upcoming match guarantees excessive stakes and intense competitors as each groups search to safe their respective positions within the race for The W Gold Cup. Jamaica goals to disrupt Panama’s quest, whereas Panma seems to be to seal its place within the prestigious match.
The result of this conflict will undoubtedly have important implications for the group standings and the journey to The W Gold Cup.
The present squad includes each skilled and rising gamers, together with 2019 World Cup individuals Sashana Campbell, Chinyelu Asher, and Marlo Sweatman. The choice additionally consists of Lauren Reid, Malikae Dayes, Zoe Vidaurre, Israela Groves, Ricshya Walker, Davia Richards, Mikayla Dayes, Shaneil Buckley, Melissa Johnson, Aliyah Morgan, Theanna Burnett, Serena Mensa, Shanice Foster, Future Powell, Njeri Butts, Shania Harris, Sydnie Road, Javanae Jones, Lachante Paul, and Maliah Atkins.
