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Reggae Girlz beat Panama 2-0 - 'Stringbean' suspended for semi-final against Canada <DIV class=KonaBody>
By GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor</DIV>
Jamaica's Reggae Girl Venicia Reid. - file
MIAMI, United States
Jamaica skipped over their first hurdle in the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup with a 2-0 win over Panama yesterday, but the Reggae Girlz will be without their top goal scorer for Wednesday's important semi-final clash against Canada.
Striker Venicia 'Stringbean' Reid scored Jamaica's insurance goal in the 59th minute at Tropical Park Stadium to add to midfielder Audia Sullivan's fourth-minute tally that knocked the Central American team out of the tournament.
However, Reid was ejected in the 87th minute after a second caution - two of seven issued in the tough and tumble match - to add to the Girlz's continuing woes of missing key players.
Starters Yolanda Hamilton and Omolyn Davis missed yesterday's match due to school team commitments and are also "doubtful" for Wednesday's game against Canada, according to coach Vin Blaine. Yet the striker's absence will hurt the most.
"It is a big blow," he said of Reid's expected one-match suspension. "Venicia Reid is our prolific goal scorer for all the age groups and in this (tournament) she will be sorely missed. I know that Canada will be breathing a sigh of relief when they hear that she is gone."
Yesterday, it was Reid's presence that made the difference. She assisted on Sullivan's early goal by shaking off her marker and sending the fleet-footed midfielder clear on the right side of Panama's penalty area. Sullivan easily beat goalkeeper Lineth Benis.
Reid returned in the second half to ease the pressure off Jamaica, which struggled all evening to find the passing rhythm that had helped them waltz through the qualifying stages of the Gold Cup, as she was credited with heading in a cross from the left flank.
Shaky defence
Although satisfied with yesterday's win, Blaine admitted that Jamaica will have to step up their performance on Wednesday against Canada, a team he expects to be much tougher than Panama.
"We have to play a little more urgently," he said. "Our passing was off a bit (against Panama). I am not blaming (the Girlz) 100 per cent because I believe it was the conditions that caused that."
If the cool temperatures here yesterday disrupted the Reggae Girlz's flow, the Panamanians, stung by the early setback, added salt to their woes. The red swarm pressured relentlessly, even while looking shaky in defence. But Jamaica, led by central defenders Alicia Wilson and Natalya Manyan, ensured that goalkeeper Paula Jackson was rarely troubled, especially in the first half. Both teams squandered second-half chances to add to the goal total.
Now Jamaica have little room for error against a seasoned Canadian team that received a bye to the semi-final. Blaine believes Jamaica have players capable of stepping into the void left by Reid, Hamilton and Davis, plus Hishamar Falconer, Shakira Duncan and Shanique Mitchell, three others who should have been in Jamaica's squad for the tournament. Sullivan is expected to take Reid's place up front against Canada, but it is unclear who will be slotted into her midfield role.
Whoever steps in will help decide what Blaine described as "the game of the century" for Jamaica against Canada. If the Girlz win, a historic place in next year's World Cup in China awaits, in addition to a sp
& Mexico advance to 2006 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup™ Semifinals
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