Ecuador's Denise Pesante (left) controls the ball, while Jamaica's Hishamar Falconer looks on during their Pan American games football match in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. - Reuters

rio de janeiro, brazil (cmc)

Jamaica's women football team got off to a winning start when they beat Ecuador in the opening match of the XV Pan American Games yesterday.

Playing on a waterlogged field at the Mecimo de Silva Sports Complex Football Stadium, the Jamaicans won through a 47th minute goal from midfielder Tashana Vincent.

She slipped the ball away from the opposing keeper in style to spark celebrations.

"When I saw the ball coming in my direction I thought, 'Tashana, this is your chance to score'," Vincent said. "If I missed it, I would not have had another opportunity. I had to take it."

Paola Bermudes the Ecuador captain said the poor conditions played heavily against her girls in what was a physical contest.

"It was a tough game and the field was heavy. This affected our performance and it was tough to lose," Bermudes said.

The win was a perfect start for the Jamaicans who are in a tough Group A alongside Brazil, Uruguay, and Canada. The other group is headed by defending champions United States, Paraguay, Panama, and Mexico.

The Girlz will face a very big test tomorrow when they oppose hosts Brazil at the Joao Havelange Stadium at 3:30 p.m. (local time 1:30). The Brazilians, who beat Uruguay 4-0 yesterday, will welcome back FIFA's top female player Marta. The Brazilian female star who plays professionally in Sweden has been out of the Brazilian line-up for the past three years. In the opening match of the competition Argentina blanked Panama 2-0.