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Reggae Girl loves Cup of Nation experience
February 23, 2023
Reggae Girlz defender Deneisha Blackwood contends that despite losing all three of their games at the Cup of Nations tournament in Australia, they gained valuable experience, which will serve them well, especially against European teams.
The Reggae Girlz lost their final game 3-0 to Australia yesterday, after losing their first two 3-0 to Spain and 3-2 to Czechoslovakia in the tournament, which was used as preparation for the FIFA Women's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in the summer.
Blackwood, the former Excelsior High School star, however, believes it was an opportunity for the Reggae Girlz to assess themselves against these higher-ranked teams.
"The tournament has been really good for us. We got the chance to see a lot, and I feel like over the three games, we should be proud of ourselves.
"We came and did our best. The scoreline was not what we wanted, but I am very excited to see what we will bring come July (at World Cup)," she said.
She argued that the games were a great learning experience, which she thinks will help them when they face similar teams at the World Cup.
"We are very glad we got to play these European teams because, in the World Cup, we are going to face teams like these, and we are looking forward. We just want to continue to go on and go to the World Cup and do our best," she added.
The Jamaicans started well against the Matildas with good openings falling to Jodi Brown, Kayla McKenna and Atlanta Primus.
It was, however, the Australians who broke the deadlock through Katrina Gorry's 20-yard shot.
McKenna should have levelled the match for the Reggae Girlz before the break, but Australia's goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold, expertly blocked her effort after she was sent clear on goal.
The Aussies made it 2-0 early in the second half when Alex Chidiac got loose in the box and fired past Rebecca Spence before Caitlin Foord put the game to bed with another excellent strike from outside the area.
