Gordon Williams, Contributor

Venicia Reid ... out of Wednesday's semi-final

MIAMI, United States:

Jamaica inched closer to a coveted spot in next year's World Cup finals after beating Panama 2-0 in the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup at Tropical Park Stadium here yesterday.

Goals in each half by Audia Sullivan and Venicia Reid, on a cool South Florida evening, ensured that the Reggae Girlz continued a hot streak ignited by an impressive Gold Cup qualifying run, advancing to Wednesday's semi-final against Canada in Carson, California.

The winners of that game will not only earn a shot at the region's biggest football prize on Sunday, but also an automatic berth to the World Cup in China.

Yesterday's game did not come easy for Jamaica, even after the Girlz were given a fourth-minute lead by Sullivan when striker Reid turned neatly on a flicked on ball and split the Panama defence. The speedy midfielder ran on to the pass and easily slotted past Panama's goalkeeper, Lineth Benis.

Before the match, Jamaica's coach Vin Blaine had promised that the Reggae Girlz would challenge Panama early and, in front of a fair-sized crowd dominated by Spanish-speaking supporters of Panama and Mexico mixed with Jamaicans and drum-beating Trinidadians, the Girlz' early strike seemed to back his prediction. Yet the setback only seemed to spur the red-clad Panamanians into action and they pressured Jamaica into mistakes that disrupted the rhythm of the team's normal, smooth-passing game.

Physical contest

The sometimes-physical contest, smeared at times by hard fouls and tough tackling, produced a total of seven cautions, including two for Reid leading to her expulsion and a suspension from Wednesday's semi-final.

The pressure slowly turned the game in Panama's favour despite stout defending by Jamaica which left goalkeeper Paula Jackson hardly tested.

"They were technically better than we thought," said coach Vin Blaine. "The conditions were not in our favour. The ball was very hard and the passes were not as complete as they should be."

Clinging to the slim half-time lead, Jamaica returned sharper in the second half and were rewarded with an insurance goal in the 59th minute when Reid headed in a cross from the left flank.

More open play as the game wore on produced clear scoring chances for both teams, including a break-away miss by Jamaica's Kimmia Parker, as the Reggae Girlz held on to advance in the tournament and keep their World Cup dreams alive.

In the other match of yesterday's double header, Trinidad and Tobago were locked in battle with Mexico for the other semi-final berth up to press time. That result determines which team tackles hosts and Gold Cup favourites United States on Wednesday in Carson and also keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Entering yesterday's games, both T&T and Jamaica also had a chance to secure the Caribbean's lone spot in next year's Pan Am Games in Brazil as well, depending on which country finishes higher in the Gold Cup.

Teams

Jamaica: Nicola Bell (captain), Paula Jackson, Alicia Wilson, Audia Sullivan (Christina Murray 72nd), Venicia Reid, Natalya Manyan, Kimmia Parker, Peta-Gaye Soman, Diana Hue, Stacy-Ann Johnson and Rochelle Bryan (Lianne McHardy 55th).

Substitutes not used: Peatria Campbell, Mitsy Facey, Shanise Steele and Tanesia Vassell.

Panama: Raiza Gutuerrez (captain), Mayra De La Rosa, Steffany Aguilar (Ruth Romero, 57th), Kendra Chavarria, Phanilka Evans, Sumara Samuels, Yoraidil Perez, Diana Valderrama, Lineth Benis, Ymara Guante (Amarelis De Mera 33rd) and Maritzenia Bedoya.

Substitutes not used: Farissa Cordoda, Adelaida Machado, Kathia Aguirre, Chery Chen, Melissa Knox, Camela Knight and Yadira Pacheco.

Referee: Kari Seitz, United States

Assistants: Cynette Jeffrey, Guyana; and Beverley Grant, Barbados.

Fourth official: Shane DeSilva, Trinidad and Tobago.

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.