ARRIBA!

JAMAICA’S senior Reggae Girlz on Friday night announced their return to action in emphatic fashion, edging Mexico 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller in the first of two friendly internationals at the Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes. In a game that had everything — stunning goals, a penalty, and two stoppage-time strikes — it was the now the 40th-ranked Jamaicans who showed nerves of steel to hold on for a famous victory, their first over the 28th-ranked Mexico in senior women’s football since 2022. Hubert Busy’s team started like a house on fire, and Mexico had no answer. The breakthrough came in the 15th minute when Paige BaileyGayle, lively on the wing all night, slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Jody Brown and the diminutive attacker did what she does best. Brown squeezed her shot past Mexican goalkeeper Esthefanny Barreras for her 21st goal in the black, green and gold. The Reggae Girlz were not finished as five minutes later, “Captain Fantastic” Khadija Shaw doubled the lead. Drew Spence found Shaw with a defence-splitting through ball, and “Bunny” needed no second invitation. From range, she gave Barreras no chance. It was goal number 67 for Shaw — and one that underlined why she remains one of the most feared strikers in world football. Mexico, roared on by their home fans, responded. In the 29th minute the brilliant Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle pulled one back for El Tri Femenil. Her free kick eluded everyone, including a full-stretched Rebecca Spencer in the Jamaican goal, and nestled in the far corner. But Jamaica restored their two-goal cushion in the 36th minute from the spot. Shaw, again at the heart of everything, was brought down in the box by Mexican Captain Rebeca Bernal and the Jamaicans were awarded. Deneisha Blackwood stepped up with ice in her veins and smashed home past Barreras for her 12th international goal to put the visitors 3-1 up. Bernal, determined to atone for her error, made amends on the stroke of half-time. In the 45th minute she rose to head past Spencer and make it 3-2 at the break, setting up a tantalising second half. The second half was a different kind of battle — less goals, more grit. Both teams traded chances, with near misses at both ends that had fans on the edge of their seats. Spencer pulled off two outstanding saves to deny Ovalle while at the other end, Barreras kept Mexico in the game with a brilliant stop from Shaw’s shot. Then, just when it looked like Jamaica would have to sweat out a narrow win, the clincher came in the 90th minute. Substitute Kayla Jay McKenna showed brilliant vision to find Solai Washington with a beautiful through ball, and Washington made no mistake. The youngster slotted home calmly for her first-ever senior goal for Jamaica — a moment she will never forget — to make it 4-2. Mexico, to their credit, never stopped fighting. In the 90+5 minute Veronica Charlyn Corral scored a goal of real quality to make it 4-3, but it was too little, too late. The final whistle went moments later to spark wild celebrations among the Reggae Girlz. It was a statement win — full of character, clinical finishing and resilience. The two teams will meet again in the second friendly in Querétaro tomorrow.