Veronica Charlyn Corral (#9) scored twice to give Mexico a 3-1 win over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Women's Championship on October 21, 2014, in Washington, D.C., at RFK Stadium. (Photo: Mexsport)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Mexico became the final team to secure a semifinal berth in the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship, overcoming a one-goal deficit to register a 3-1 Group B victory over Jamaica in the rain Tuesday night.
Veronica Charlyn Corral struck for two goals within a 17-minute span in the second half -- the game-winner and insurance tally -- for the Tricolor, which needed only a draw to advance at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.
Sandra Stephany Mayor had netted an equalizer after Donnakay Henry put the Jamaicans ahead early.
The Mexicans (2-0-1, 6 points) will face the United States in the semifinals in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Friday with a FIFA Women's World Cup berth at stake. The Reggae Girlz (1-0-2, 3 points), who needed a win to progress, were eliminated.
For the second consecutive match, Mexico's regular goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago did not start as head coach Leonardo Cuellar decided to use Pamela Tajonar.
Jamaica took a 1-0 lead against the run of play in the ninth minute. Henry was fed a ball down the right flank as she sped into the penalty area ahead of defender Alina Garciamendez and brilliantly placed a curling, 15-yard shot into the far left corner. It was Henry's third goal after striking twice in a 6-0 win over Martinique.
That glitch seemed to motivate Mexico to play with more purpose and it found the equalizer in the 29th minute. Nicole McClure could not handle a slippery ball off Monica Ocampo’s left-wing cross. Sandra Stephany Mayor, standing four yards away, slotted it home for her second goal of the tournament.
Corral, the all-time leading CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship scorer (14 goals), took over in the second half.
Kenti Robles found the 23-year-old with a crisp right-wing cross that Corral side-volleyed to the far post for a 2-1 advantage in the 59th minute.
Corral gave Mexico – which hit the woodwork twice in the game -- some breathing room in the 76th minute, firing in a 15-yard effort for a 3-1 lead.
To view Highlights of this game, click here.
