ALAJUELA, Costa Rica - Nour Ghoneim scored a pair of goals to lead Canada over Jamaica 4-1 Thursday night in the opening game for both in the CONCACAF Under-17 Women's Championship.
Kylie Davis and Sabrina Hemond also scored for Canada, which finished third in the inaugural championship in 2008.
Canada started strongly, forcing a series of early corners, and took the lead six minutes after the opening kickoff.
Chantal Campbell swung in a corner from the left which Jamaican keeper Shantal Graham parried into the path of Kylie Davis.
A composed Davis half-volleyed the rebound from 12 meters over Graham, who was out of position. Two minutes later, Davis smacked a shot off the cross bar with a fierce effort and Campbell also hit the bar with a long-range effort in the 18th minute.
The Canadians doubled their lead a minute before halftime with Davis sending a perceptive pass to Ghoneim, who rolled a softly struck right-footed shot into the back of the net. It was a deserved half-time lead for Canada who dominated possession, creating a number of good chances during the first 45 minutes.
Canada opened the second half as they did the first: on the offensive. Davis had a shot well saved before Caroline Beaulne bounced a downward header over the bar, and Nicole Setterlund blazed over from 25 meters.
Seventeen minutes into the second half, Ghoneim made it 3-0, latching onto a long pass from Katherine Caverly, rounding the onrushing keeper and scoring into the empty net.
The Reggae Girlz scored a consolation goal in the 76th when Shenika Williams won a 50-50 ball out of the back, beating keeper Rachel Beanlands who had come off her line. She settled it with her right foot and eluded Alison Clarke before finishing with her left.
Three minutes from time, Canada finished the scoring when long ball from Alexandra Courtnall bounced off Shauntae Brown to Hemond, who converted from nine yards.
Group B resumes Saturday afternoon with Mexico, who defeated Panama 6-0 in the first game of the evening, taking on Jamaica while Canada faces the Central Americans.
