Shania Hayles Free Kick Gives Reggae Girlz 1-0 Friendly Win In Panama

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz opened their two-match friendly series against Panama with a 1-0 victory at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City on Friday.

Shania Hayles delivered the deciding moment in the 25th minute, curling in a free kick for her fourth goal for Jamaica and her third of the year. The Reggae Girlz had controlled much of the first half and created several openings before going ahead. In the eighth minute, Kayla McKenna turned near the top of the six-yard area but sent her effort narrowly outside the left post. Jamaica later earned a free kick from about 22 yards, and Hayles placed her strike into the far left side of the net beyond goalkeeper Yenith Bailey.

Jody Brown came close to extending the advantage in the 50th minute, but her attempt struck the left post and went out. Soon after, Bailey denied a shot from Kameron Simmonds. Panama pushed harder after the break and nearly levelled in the 87th minute, only for Liya Brooks to dive fully to her left and tip Katherine Castillo’s header behind for a corner.