Canada Blanks Jamaica at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Panama

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Canada won its second-straight match at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Ciudad de Panama, this time a 2-0 victory over Jamaica to secure a spot amongst the final-four teams in the competition. Canada left it late, but recorded two unanswered goals from Jenna Richardson and Catherine Charron-Delage in the second half. 

Richardson was the first to test the Jamaican backline, with a trio of chances including a shot dead on in the third minute. Canadian-born Jamaica goalkeeper Taylor Grant made the save, but also bobbled it for a moment before grabbing it and holding the ball tight. 

In the 29th minute, Christabel Oduro created a great chance as her centering shot was nearly tipped in by Richardson. Just in time, Jamaican defender Nugene Nugent was there to tip it wide. The play led to a couple of corner kicks and another good run by Oduro down the left side. 

As play progressed, both sides traded some chances, but Canada always maintained the greater possession. In the 60th minute, with the scoreline still tied, captain Shelina Zadorsky came closest with a corner kick that hit the far post – but somehow staed out. 

From there, Canada really started to mount the pressure, with the Jamaican Grant at times unable to hold the ball, but always there to catch the rebound and keep the score even at 0-0 

Finally in the 76th minute, Grant could stop the Canadian offence no more. On a direct run by Oduro into the box, she hurdled the goalkeeper Grant, but was forcedwide of the target. Maintaining possession, Oduro got the ball back to Exeter in the box who, marked with her back to goal, passed it back to the top of the box for the onrushing Richardson. Richardson fired the low, clean shot past the Jamaicans and into the back of the net. 

Just six minutes later, Canada doubled its lead with the Charron-Delage strike. This time, Zadorsky’s corner kick into the box was headed towards Exeter. With her back to the goal and Charron-Delage just above her in perfect position, Exeter provided her second assist of the evening as Charron-Delage blasted the shot into the net. 

The two goals were more than enough to secure the victory, with goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo posting her second clean sheet of the tournament. Along with D’Angelo, Canada’s starting XI featured Diamond Simpson at right back, Shelina Zadorsky and Rachel Melhado at centre back, Nicole Hill at left back, and Jaclyn Sawicki, Constance de Chantal Dumont, Christabel Oduro, Jenna Richardson, Amélia Pietrangelo and Olivia Colosimo from the midfield up through to the attack. 

In the second half, coach Andrew Olivieri’s three substitutions were Pietrangelo off for Catherine Charron-Delage (46′), 

Jamaica’s starting XI featured Taylor Grant (goal), Toriana Patterson, Nugene Nugent, Renee Freeman, Kimberly Spence, Carla Daniels, Trudi Carter, Marlo Sweatman, Alika Keene, Chinyelu Asher, and Shanyce Shaw. 

In the second half, coach Vinimore Blaine’s three substitutions were Asher off for Shenika Williams (68′), Danielsoff for Khedine Salmon (77′), and Freeman off for Khadija Shaw (82′).

The match was played at the Estadio Rommel Fernández in Ciudad de Panama, Panama. Canada’s next match is Monday 5 March against Mexico.