Whitecaps FC & CONCACAF.com
Nour Ghoneim scored a pair of goals to lead Canada to a 4-1 victory over Jamaica in their opening Group A match at the 2010 CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship on Thursday evening.
Kylie Davis and Sabrina Hemond also scored for Bryan Rosenfeld's Canadian side at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Canada's starting XI included two members of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18 Girls Prospects side. Midfielder Nicole Setterlund served as team captain, while Coquitlam, BC, native Katherine Caverly earned a spot in Rosenfeld's backline.
Canada started strongly, forcing a series of early corners, and took the lead six minutes after the opening kickoff.
Chantal Campbell swung in a corner from the left, which Jamaican goalkeeper Shantal Graham parried into the path of Davis. A composed Davis half-volleyed the rebound from 12 meters over Graham, who was out of position, for a 1-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Davis smacked a shot off the crossbar with a fierce effort, while Campbell also hit the bar with a long-range effort in the 18th minute.
The Canadians doubled their lead a minute before halftime. Davis sent a perceptive pass to Ghoneim, who rolled a softly struck right-footed shot into the back of the net for 2-0.
It was a deserved halftime lead for Canada who dominated possession, creating a number of good chances during the first 45 minutes.
Canada opened the second half as they did the first - on the offensive. Davis had a shot well saved before Caroline Beaulne bounced a downward header over the crossbar, while Setterlund blazed a strike over the target from 25 meters out.
Seventeen minutes into the second half, Ghoneim made it 3-0 to Canada. She latched onto a long pass from Caverly before rounding the onrushing Graham and scoring into the empty net.
The Reggae Girlz scored a consolation goal in the 76th minute when Shenika Williams won a 50-50 ball out of the back before beating Canadian goalkeeper Rachel Beanlands, who had come off her goal line. She settled it with her right foot and eluded her marker Alison Clarke before finishing with her left foot.
Three minutes from the end, Canada finished the scoring when long ball from Alexandra Courtnall bounced off Shauntae Brown to Hemond, who converted her effort from nine yards out.
Group A resumes Saturday afternoon with Mexico, who defeated Panama 6-0 in the first game on Thursday, taking on Jamaica while Canada meet the Central Americans.
