U17 Reggae Girlz draw opening World Cup qualifier

Jamaica’s under-17 Reggae Girlz had to settle to a 1-1 draw with Guyana in their opening Concacaf U17 Women’s Group D World Cup qualification match at the Stadion Guillermo Prospero Trinidad in Aruba, yesterday.

Alexuandria Chasles gave Guyana the lead in the 76th minute, but Nycolette Prendergast salvaged a point for the Reggae Girlz with a 85th-minute strike.

In an evenly contested match, the Guyanese came closest to taking the lead in the first half when Chasles rattled the bar in the 20th minute.

Nevertheless, the Jamaican looked the more likely to score and had half chances through Shennel Walters and Riquanna Richards.

In an even more tightly contested second half, the Lady Jaguars hit the bar for a second time through Ellie Biffin’s long range effort.

The underdogs would take the lead after 76 minutes when Kalila Daley’s weak clearance landed in the path of Chasles, who slotted home from six yards.

However, the young Reggae Girlz fought back and had chances through Elizabeth Miller and Jamara Jones, before Prendergast found the equaliser with a powerful strike inside the far post, with five minutes remaining.

Jamaica and Guyana share the lead in Group D with a point each. Honduras, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Aruba are the other countries in the five-team group.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com