TORONTO, Canada, CMC – Jamaica’s Reggae Girls failed in their quest for a spot at next year’s Paris Olympics when they went down 2-1 to Canada in the crucial second leg of the CONCACAF Olympic Playoff here Tuesday.
The Caribbean powerhouses took the lead just after the half-hour mark at BMO Field through Tottenham Hotspurs’ Drew Spence. Still, goals from Arsenal’s Cloé Lacasse and Jordyn Huitema led Canada’s comeback.
The victory, which followed up their 2-0 result in the first leg in Kingston last week, saw the Canadians book their spot in the Paris showpiece next year and qualify automatically for the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, also scheduled for next year.
For Jamaica, they missed out on becoming the first Caribbean side to reach the Olympic Games. They will now fall into the ongoing Gold Cup qualifiers, campaigning in Group B of the League against Panama and Guatemala.
Jamaica started brightly and was rewarded in the 33rd minute when the 30-year-old Spence drilled a brilliant free-kick past goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan from 22 yards out.
However, Jamaica was then forced to ride their luck, the crossbar coming to defender Deneisha Blackwood’s aid as she tried to clear a corner in the 36th and goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer tipping Ashley Lawrence’s long-range drive, also onto the crossbar moments later.
The equalizer came seconds later, however, Lacasse finding herself loosely marked inside the six-yard box to nod home Adriana Leon’s corner.
With the game level at the break but the momentum in the home side’s favor, Jamaica conceded early in the second half to find themselves trailing.
Lawrence got down the right side and evaded a poor challenge from Blackwood before sending a cross into the area for half-time substitute Huitema to head past Spencer in the 50th minute.
No clear-cut chances came Jamaica’s way after that. Still, Spencer was called into action in stoppage time to save from the feet of substitute Simi Awujo and prevent Canada from extending the scoreline.
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