Jamaica sweep friendly series against Peru

KINGSTON, Jamaica- Naya Cardoza and Reanna Blades scored their maiden international goals as Jamaica’s ReggaeGirlz held off Peru 3-2 in their second friendly international played at Estadio Miguel Grau in Lima on Wednesday.

Jamaica made six changes to the team that won 2-0 in the first game played on Sunday, completing a sweep of the series and pushing their win streak to four consecutive games.

Cardoza, who was Honorable Mention All-Ivy for the second time in her career while at Brown University, headed Jamaica into the lead in the sixth minute when she redirected a cross from Siobhan Wilson.

Blades, who plays for National League North side Burnley in England, doubled the advantage in the 19th minute, firing from the left flank into the far corner.

It was 3-0 in the 22nd minute when Tiffany Cohen picked up a ball that was spilled by the Peruvian goalkeeper and rolled into the goal for her eighth in the 'black, green and gold' and first since 2022 when she scored in a home game against the Dominican Republic.

Peru got on the score sheet in the 35th minute when Birka Ruiz beat Jamaica’s goalkeeper Liya Brooks into the far left corner of the goal.

Brooks, who had tipped a ferocious strike on to the crossbar earlier in the game, kept Jamaica’s two-goal 1lead when she saved a penalty from Geraldine Cisneros in the 45th minute.

Alondra Vilchez pulled Peru to within a goal when she produced a wonderful strike in the 54th minute, turning on the edge of the 18-yard box and firing a half volley past Brooks.

-         Paul Reid