Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica take group leads in Women’s U-20 Qualifiers | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Qualifiers kicked off on Thursday as 24 nations start their quests towards the Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Three groups began play, with Group B taking place in the Dominican Republic, Group D in Nicaragua, and Group F in Trinidad and Tobago.

The six group winners will advance to the CU20 Championship, which will determine the four Concacaf representatives for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

It was an explosive opening matchday with 29 goals scored, where Puerto Rico's Gemma Gillespie shined with a brace, Jamaica’s Alyssa Stephenson netted a hat-trick, Nicaragua’s Daniela Manzanares came off the bench to score a brace, and Costa Rica’s Sheika Scott added a brace in the victory against Aruba.

Group B

Puerto Rico 6, U.S. Virgin Islands 0

Puerto Rico earned a 6-nil victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands in Group B at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The Boricuas started the scoring in the 2’, with Susana Roberts striking the opening goal.

Marilia Nieves-Mechor extended the Puerto Rico lead in the 3’. A right-footed volley in the area from a corner kick by Gemma Gillespie in the 13' furthered Puerto Rico's advantage.

Ashley McMahon gave her team the fourth goal in the 51’ before Gillespie secured her brace, and the fifth goal for Puerto Rico, in the 55’, receiving the ball in the area after a corner kick and sending a right-footed shot to the back of the net.

Puerto Rico’s sixth goal came in the 90’ from a right-footed volley in the area by Amanda Rodriguez.

El Salvador 1, Honduras 0

El Salvador sealed a 1-nil win against Honduras in Group B at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The lone goal of the match came from the boots of Janelle Torres in the 50’, ready in the penalty area to send a left-footed shot, getting the first three points for La Selecta.

Group D

Jamaica 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0

Jamaica began its campaign with a 7-nil win over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in Group D at Estadio Nacional de Fútbol in Managua, Nicaragua.

Alyssa Stephenson scored the opening goal in the 15’.

Avery Johnson doubled the lead in the 25’, and Maya Raghunandanan delivered the third goal of the night in the 29’, thanks to a right-footed shot from outside the area.

Captain Jaileah Cox McPherson took a free kick at the edge of the box to score the fourth goal for the Reggae Girlz in the 42’.

The fifth goal for Jamaica was a team effort that Andrene Smith put the finishing touch on in the 45’.

Stephenson scored the sixth goal in the 45'+3, sealing her brace.

Stephenson closed the day with a hat-trick, and the seventh goal for Jamaica, in the 60’ with a right-footed shot in the box.

Nicaragua 8, Saint Kitts and Nevis 0

Nicaragua earned an 8-nil victory against Saint Kitts and Nevis in Group D at Estadio Nacional de Fútbol in Managua, Nicaragua.

Jenifer Sarantes scored the opening goal in the 5’ for Nicaragua, coming from outside the area to send a left-footed shot to the center of the net.

The second goal of the night for Nicaragua came in the 14’, Sarantes trying a long shot that goalkeeper Tatyanna Daley managed to stop. However, the ball was let loose, and Jennifer Toval was ready to send the ball across the line to double her team’s advantage.

A right foot shot in the box by Perla Garache in the 15’ marked the third goal of the night for the hosts.

Sarantes earned a brace, and the fourth for Nicaragua, in the 43’, with a right-footed shot just outside the area.

Daniela Manzanares proved to be a super-sub as she scored the fifth goal of the night in the 80’ from a right free kick.

Manzanares earned her brace, scoring the sixth goal for Nicaragua, once again from a free kick, in the 88’.

Sara Pavon in the 90’ gave Nicaragua their seventh goal of the night. The eighth goal for Nicaragua came from the boots of Kyrstin Mesa in the 90’+6’.

Group F

Costa Rica 4, Aruba 0

Costa Rica earned a 4-nil victory over Aruba in Group F at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.

Stacy Thomas started the Costa Rica goal count in the 7’. Costa Rica doubled its lead in the 83’ thanks to the services of Valeria Vargas.

Sheika Scott gave Las Ticas a dream finish, scoring in the 89’ with a header in the area and sealing her brace in the 90’+3’ from the penalty spot.

Guatemala 3, Cayman Islands 0

Guatemala earned a 3-nil win against the Cayman Islands in Group F at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.

Fabiola Alvarez opened the goal count for Guatemala with a left-footed shot in the 13’.

Guatemala doubled its lead in the 38’ thanks to Yaretzy Fernández, who controlled the ball in the area, cut it back with one touch, and sent a right-footed low shot to the center of the net.

The third goal of the night for Guatemala came in the 72’ thanks to Waleska Franco.