FRISCO, Texas -- Jamaica became the first Caribbean country to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup defeating Panama in a penalty-kick shootout in the third-place match of the 2018 concacaf Women's Championship at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Reggae Girlz won the tie-breaker, 4-2.
Goalkeeper Nicole McClure, who replaced Sydney Schneider in the 120th minute, saved shots by Lineth Cedeno and Kenia Rangel after Yomira Pinzon and Erika Hernandez converted their chances.
Deneisha Blackwood, Ashleigh Shim, Christina Chang and Dominique Bond-Flasza put home their attempts for Jamaica.
The Panamanians still have a chance to reach France for next year's tournament as it will play Argentina in a home-and-home playoff.
Brown set up the Reggae Girlz' first goal as Khadija Shaw headed in her right-wing cross from seven yards for her third goal of the tournament in the 14th minute.
Panama equalized in the 75th minute on captain Natalia Mills' first goal of the competition. Mills latched onto a pass and ran to the top of the box as she drilled a shot into the lower left corner past Schneider to knot the score at 1-1.
Jamaica's Jody Brown tallied her fourth goal of the tournament five minutes into the first extra period. She fired a right-footed shot from 16 yards into the near right post past Bailey.
Panama tied things up for the second time in the 115th minute as Adrith Quintero fed Cedeno, who beat Schneider from eight yards.
The defending world champion United States and Canada played for the confederation title in the second game of the doubleheader.
