Bunny brace inspires Reggae Girlz comeback against Nicaragua

A brace from Reggae Girlz striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw spearheaded a come-from-behind win for Jamaica as they edged Nicaragua 3-2 yesterday in a Concacaf W Qualifiers Group B game at the Nicaragua National Stadium.

Shaw bagged her brace in the 37th and 59th minutes, while a strike from Shania Hayles in the 68th minute handed all three points to the Reggae Girlz.

Nicaraguan captain Sheyla Flores scored in the 27th, while Nuria Marquez added her name to the scoresheet in the 82nd.

Jamaica had the better opportunities throughout the contest, but the first half was a tentative affair with the Girlz squandering a number of opportunities.

One such chance fell to Shaw, who broke free from her markers to meet a cross into the box from Deneisha Blackwood.

The striker was too casual in her execution, however, as her header was sent wide of the mark.

Nicaragua capitalised on Jamaica’s missed opportunities, a handball in the box giving the hosts a penalty kick, which Flores stepped up to convert in the 27th minute.

Jamaica immediately went searching for the equaliser and found purchase through Shaw 10 minutes later.

The towering striker had no peer in the box, jumping highest to finish off a Tiffany Cameron cross with a well-placed header.

The Girlz went into the half-time break level but roared to life in the second half, taking the lead 14 minutes after the restart.

Shaw again proved the heroine for the Girlz as she was fastest to react to a loose ball in the box, flicking her effort around the goalkeeper from point-blank range.

The Girlz soon found their rhythm and slowly pressed their Central Americans opponents back before finding their third just past the hour mark.

A well-worked series of passes found Shaw on the right side of the box. The skipper then played a dangerous ball across the face of goal, which was tapped into an empty net by Hayles.

The Girlz thought they had their fourth when Shaw ran free in the 75th minute but was denied through the goalkeeping heroics of Nicaragua’s Greta Ginie, who pulled off a double save.

Nicaragua pulled one back with just their third shot of the night, Marquez heading home from a corner in the 82nd.

The dying minutes of the game proved to be a hectic battle as Nicaragua, hoping to leave with a point, went searching for an equaliser that would not come.

With the result, Jamaica move atop Group B with six points, tied with Nicaragua.

However, Jamaica hold the advantage with a better goal difference with their 21 goals scored, compared to Nicaragua’s nine.

Guyana sit third with three points, while Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica are fourth and fifth, respectively, both without a point.

The Girlz will play their next two games at home, facing Antigua on April 10 before closing out the group against Guyana on April 18.

The winner of the group will advance to the Concacaf W Championship, which will serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The Reggae Girlz are hunting for their third consecutive appearance at a World Cup and their first-ever Olympic Games appearance.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com