By Alexis Montieth

Deneisha Blackwood delivered again for Pumas Femenil in Mexico on matchday 10 of the Liga MX Femenil 2024 Clausura season, registering a goal in the team’s 2-0 away win over Atlas Femenil on Friday (March 8).

The goal marks her fifth since the start of the campaign and her second from two consecutive games in just under a week.

Blackwood’s moment against Atlas came in the second half with Pumas already leading 1-0 thanks to a Stephanie Ribeiro strike in the first half. This time Ribeiro turned provider, collecting the ball, carrying it a short distance into the Atlas penalty area and then slipping it to the Jamaican who was running straight down the middle of the box. The Reggae Girl hit it first time sending it past the goalkeeper and into the top of the net.

Blackwood had been harassing the Atlas defence for most of the game as they struggled to contain her runs down their right flank and her crosses into the box.

This season has seen the Jamaican raise her game and solidify her position as a left-sided midfielder, contributing to build-up play, delivering crosses and assisting with defensive battles. 

In 2023, during her first season, Blackwood rotated as a left-back, midfielder and even a winger, but this season her new head coach Marcelo Frigério has settled on playing her on the left of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation, maximising both her offensive and defensive capabilities.

Blackwood’s goal against Atlas came just six days after she scored against Tijuana in a thrilling 3-3 draw on matchday nine.

In the 36th minute against Tijuana, with the score at 1-0 in her team’s favour, Blackwood picked up a long pass and carried it into the box with the speed that makes her a handful for defenders. As the Tijuana goalkeeper rushed to meet her, the Reggae Girl struck the ball hard, directing a left-footed shot past the custodian and into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Her performance against Tijuana saw her named to the Liga MX Femenil Once Ideal (Best 11) for matchday nine. 

The entertaining encounter sparked discussion, drawing attention for both positive and negative aspects. Pumas’ last-minute equaliser immediately following a Tijuana goal provided a momentous finish to the clash. But scenes turned ugly following the final whistle when the Pumas players, including Blackwood, found themselves in the position of physically restraining their coach, Marcelo Frigério, who was furiously confronting the referee.

Blackwood’s five goals and three assists in 10 games could inspire a rethink of how she is utilised for the Jamaican national team. Her attacking numbers cannot be ignored. The player’s defensive displays at the 2023 Women’s World Cup attracted plaudits, especially after her FIFA Player of the Match performance against France, but the team struggled to make an offensive impact scoring only one goal at the tournament, a deficiency that Blackwood could help to address.

Meanwhile, in Mexico, Pumas fans will be hoping that the Reggae Girl maintains her form, as the club currently sits in the top half of the table, vying for a playoff spot at the end of the regular season. Blackwood has emerged as a key protagonist in the team’s campaign.