Jamaica’s young Reggae Girls came agonizingly close to securing a spot in the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championships after drawing 1-1 with tournament hosts Nicaragua in their final group-stage match on Monday night.

The match got off to a tense start, and Jamaica’s hopes were lifted just before halftime when Andrene Smith scored in the 44th minute, giving the Reggae Girls a crucial 1-0 lead. However, Nicaragua wasn’t going to go down without a fight. In a dramatic finish, Adriana Munguia found the back of the net in the 88th minute, levelling the score and leaving both teams tied at the top of Group D with 7 points each.

Despite Jamaica’s impressive effort, the draw wasn’t enough to secure top spot in the group. Nicaragua advanced on goal difference, finishing with a plus-13 goal difference compared to Jamaica’s plus-11. This result saw the hosts claim first place, while Jamaica finished in second.

As group winners, Nicaragua will progress to the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Final Round of Qualifiers in May, where they will face off against the other five group winners, as well as the United States and Mexico. The tournament will determine the four teams who will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.