Jamaica hammer Curaçao 8-0

Marc Stamp, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's Under-20 Women's football team hammered Curaçao 8-0 in the second round of Group Four World Cup Qualifiers action at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Trench Town, yesterday.

Oshay Nelson-Lawes netted a hat-trick with goals in the 3rd, 72nd and 82nd minutes. Kayla Gray added a brace in the 14th and 23rd minutes, while Trudi Carter (54th), captain Georgia Bailey (76th) and second-half substitute Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw (84th) also found the target.

Nelson-Lawes converted her second hat-trick of the tournament, after she had netted three times against Bermuda in Jamaica's 6-0 win last Tuesday.

Jamaica are firmly on top in the group that will see the top two teams advancing to the next stage of World Cup Qualifiers scheduled to be staged in Puerto Rico in October.

"I'm pleased with some things today (yesterday). We weren't as fluid as we should have been. We picked up the pace in the second half of the contest. Now we will prepare for the Cubans in the next game," said Xavier Gilbert, the Jamaica Football Federation's Women's programme assistant coordinator.

Meanwhile, Nelson-Lawes was very pleased with her performance.

"I feel nice about the performance today. I'm hoping to score some more goals against Cuba and go through to the next stage of the qualifiers," she said.

Cuba, who are likely to join Jamaica as the teams to qualify from Group Four were playing against Bermuda in the second game of the double header.

Cuba won their first game against Curaçao 6-0 three days ago.

The Group Four games conclude tomorrow with Bermuda challenging Curaçao starting at 4 p.m. to be followed by Jamaica up against Cuba, two hours later. Both games are scheduled for the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.