Toronto, Canada – The second leg of the Concacaf Olympic Playoff for Paris 2024 and direct qualification for the 2024 W Gold Cup between Canada and Jamaica took place on Tuesday at BMO Field in Toronto, with Canada, the current Olympic Champions, winning 2-1 for an aggregate victory of 4-1.
This win was the 11th time Canada has defeated Jamaica in 11 matches.
Jamaica scored for the first time in this series from a free kick after a foul in their attacking area in the 33’. FW Drew Spence was the one in charge of taking it and fired the ball into the top left corner of GK Kailen Sheridan’s net.
While trying to clear a dangerous play in their area after a Canadian corner kick in the 36’, Jamaica DF Deneisha Blackwood almost converted an own goal, with the ball hitting the crossbar.
DF Ashley Lawrence then tried to equalize for Canada with a banger from outside the area in the 38’, but Spencer stopped her chance by tipping the ball onto the crossbar and out.
However, Spencer wasn’t able to stop FW Chloe Lacasse's header in the 39’ after a corner kick, giving Canada the 1-1 equalizer and their third goal in this series.
Canada’s second goal of the evening came early in the second half from a header by FW Jordyn Huitema after Lawrence got past a Jamaica defender, sending a perfect cross for Huitema to give her team the fourth goal in the series.
Captain and Canadian legend Christine Sinclair almost scored the third one of the evenings for her side in the 60’, Spencer denying Sinclair the chance to add to her record international goal tally.
With this result, the reigning Gold Medal winners will get the chance to defend their Olympic title at Paris 2024 and have qualified for the first W Gold Cup, also to be played next year.
