Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz sent an emphatic message to their Concacaf rivals after opening their Women’s World Cup Qualifying campaign with a historic 18-0 victory over Dominica on Saturday at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia.
The commanding performance propelled Jamaica to the top of Group B on goal difference and marked the largest win in the team’s World Cup qualifying history, surpassing previous record victories of 14-0 against St. Lucia in 2014 and 13-0 over Guadeloupe in 2018.
Goals flowed from the opening whistle as the Reggae Girlz raced to a 4-0 lead within the first 10 minutes, setting the tone for a dominant display. By halftime, Jamaica held a commanding 10-0 advantage, driven by relentless attacking pressure and sharp finishing.
Three players delivered standout performances, each netting hat tricks. Captain Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, Kalyssa Van Zanten, and Jody Brown all found the back of the net three times, with Shaw’s first-half treble taking her international tally to an incredible 60 goals for Jamaica, further extending her record as the nation’s all-time leading scorer.
The second half saw no let-up in intensity. Deneisha Blackwood, along with substitutes Natasha Thomas and Shaneil Buckley, each scored twice as Jamaica continued to exploit gaps and maintain high tempo throughout the contest.
In the group’s other fixture, Nicaragua defeated Antigua and Barbuda 4-0 on Thursday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, leaving Group B finely poised heading into the next round of matches.
Jamaica’s opening performance highlighted the squad’s depth, attacking variety, and championship intent as the Reggae Girlz continue their push toward another FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance.
