Vanzanten’s late goal earns Jamaica third place honors

The match for third place in the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship in Monterrey ended with Jamaica downing Costa Rica 1-0 in extra time on Monday evening at the Estadio BBVA, according to CONCACAF.

“Jamaica crowned themselves with third place for the second time in CWC history (2018), leaving Monterrey as World Cup-bound and ready to face the tournament’s runner-up in next year’s Olympic play-in,” CONCACAF said.

It said both teams started strong, with Costa Rica having the first chance, in the 3’, but the star of the Reggae Girlz in this tournament, GK Rebecca Spencer stopped the shot, sending the ball over the crossbar.

In the 6’, CONCACAF said Las Ticas kept up the momentum when Melissa Herrera had a clear shot, but sent it wide when she was in the area alone in front of Spencer.

It said the first chance for Jamaica came in the 11’, when Drew Spence sent in a header, “but GK Daniela Solera was ready to keep the score even for both teams.”

CONCACAF said the last minutes of the first half were full of emotions.

It said that, in the 40’, Raquel Rodriguez tried to break open the game for Costa Rica, but sent it over the crossbar.

CONCACAF said the same happened for Jamaica in the 45+1’, “when Shaw had a shot to help her team, but couldn’t land a clean effort.”

Jamaica’s Trudi Carter nearly gave her side a lead in the 62’, only to see a shot strike the crossbar, CONCACAF said.

It said the goal post was once again a factor in the 90+2’, as Rodriguez tried to seal the match for Las Ticas, but instead hit the woodwork and was denied the winning goal.

CONCACAF said for the first time in the 2022 CWC, a match went to extra time, “adding even more emotion to the already tense affair.”

It said the goal finally came in the 102’ when Kalyssa Vanzanten, who had subbed on in the 99’, scored the first goal of the night with a right-footed finish, putting her team in position for the win.

“The excitement went on until the last minutes,” CONCACAF said.

In the 117’, it said Fabiola Villalobos had the last chance for Costa Rica, “but Spencer was ready to stop her shot to nail down the Jamaican victory.”