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U17 Girlz eliminated from World Cup Qualifiers - Costa Rica edge Jamaica in close contest
March 20, 2026
The Under-17 Reggae Girls fell to their second consecutive defeat at the Concacaf Women's U17 Qualifiers after they were clipped 1-0 by Costa Rica yesterday in a closely contested affair in Costa Rica.
The result also confirmed the end of their World Cup qualifying ambitions as they are now mathematically eliminated from contention.
Defender Kalila Daley said the players gave their best and have faced the reality that the result simply did not favour them on the day.
"Honestly, we trusted the process, we did what we could, but sometimes it just didn't go our way," Daley said after the match.
"I think that going back to the training ground, [we have to] work on our weaknesses and see what we can do from here."
Lucia Paniagua scored the all-important goal for the hosts in the 45+5 minutes to hand her team all three points.
MUCH-IMPROVED
Despite the defeat, it was a much-improved performance from the Reggae Girlz, who were recovering from an opening 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Mexico.
They had a better start compared to their previous game and were almost a goal up in the 21st minute. Tianna Grant let loose a curling effort from outside the box that had the goalkeeper beaten on her line. Grant's shot, however, was just a few inches too high and crashed off the crossbar, before Costa Rica cleared their lines.
The hosts broke the deadlock right before the half-time whistle when Paniagua caught the Jamaican backline off guard with a swiftly taken shot from the edge of the box that found the top right corner.
Paniagua came close to a second goal in the 75th minute, this time from a free kick that looked destined for the top left corner, but was stymied by Jamaica's goalkeeper, Shevinique Barnes.
Khyra Grant had an opportunity for the Girlz two minutes later, when she ran free of her marker in the box to meet a set-piece delivery. But her looping header was high of the target.
The Girlz were confident they found the perfect opportunity to pull level in the dying embers of the game when Elizabeth Miller ran through on goal to face the goalkeeper, but the play was called back as the referee whistled for offside.
That proved the last action of the game as the final whistle came soon after and confirmed the win for Costa Rica.
In the group's other game, Mexico continued their imperious march as they bagged another big win, thumping Panama 6-1.
With the result, Mexico sit atop Group C with a perfect six points, level with Costa Rica but holding the advantage with a better goal difference.
Panama and Jamaica sit third and fourth, respectively, both still winless and without a point.
Jamaica will close out Group C action in a match of academic interest against Panama on Sunday.
