Nichelle Prince struck twice as Canada opened its 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship with a 2-0 victory over Jamaica in Edinburg, Texas, on Friday night.
The tournament doubles as the region's qualifiers for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, with three CONCACAF teams advancing directly and the fourth-placed squad placed into a playoff against a South American opponent.
The Canadians, favoured heavily to be victorious in Friday's match, needed 33 minutes to break the deadlock. A ball lobbed into the Jamaican box was miscleared by a defender, dropping fortuitously at Prince's feet. The 23-year-old collected the ball near the penalty spot and drove a side-footed effort into the top right corner to open the scoring.
The first of 2 @nichelleprince7 goals for #CanWNT vs. Jamaica. pic.twitter.com/kjMWUKxEx4
— SN Canada Soccer (@SN_CA_Soccer) October 6, 2018
It remained 1-0 until the 80th minute, when Adriana Leon's through ball found a streaking Prince 25 yards from goal. Prince outmuscled her defender to find herself alone inside the Jamaican penalty area, and from 10 yards out she slotted the ball under the onrushing goalkeeper to seal the victory.
What a great finish for @CanadaSoccerEN’s @nichelleprince7 to double the vantage 2-0 against @jff_football #CWC pic.twitter.com/WBcQDjFCV3
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) October 6, 2018
The win put Canada into a tie atop Group B with Costa Rica, with the Central Americans holding the advantage thanks to their 8-0 victory over Cuba earlier Friday.
Canada faces the Cubans on Monday.