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Jamaica 1
Luton Shelton 45’

Panama 1
Jose Luis Garces 4’

Luton Shelton, Fabian Taylor and Mario Swaby  celebrates  the equalizing goal

Monday, March 26, 2007 – The National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica: The week’s third Digicel International Match ended in a draw at the National Stadium in Kingston, hosts the Reggae Boyz coming from a goal behind to turn in an encouraging performance in Technical Director Bora Milotinovic’s first home game as coach. Panama started much the brighter of the two sides and, as in their recent encounter with Switzerland, the Reggae Boyz found themselves a goal behind early on. After only 4 minutes, Gabriel Gomez played the ball through to Jose Luis Garces in the right hand channel of the penalty area. With the Jamaican back line seemingly stepping up in search of an offside flag, Garces has enough time to take the luxury of a couple of touches before hammering the ball home past Whittaker and inside the near post.

The early set back seemed to spur the hosts into action and the Reggae Boyz proceeded to dominate the remainder of the first half with an impressive high energy display that will have greatly encouraged the vocal home support. Christopher Harvey came close to reducing the arrears on 20 minutes, heading just over from a swinging free-kick from Bolton Wanderers EPL star Ricardo Gardener, and Fabian Taylor came even closer on 30 minutes, brilliantly denied by the diving Calderon after a wonderful flowing passing move. Just when it seemed Panama had weathered the Jamaican storm, the hosts grabbed a fully deserved equalizer on the stroke of half-time when Luton Shelton, who’s pace and power had been a thorn in Panama’s side throughout, found the target. Jamaica’s Harvey beat goalkeeper Calderon to a Gardener corner with a deft back header that fell to Shelton on the penalty spot. Shelton’s skilful turn and powerful volley to find the net showed why EPL side Sheffield United paid a seven figure sum for the striker.

The second period opened with Panama showing more of a threat with both Escobar and Gallardo going close in the opening ten minutes. The hosts seemed unable to reach the high standards they had set themselves in the opening 45 minutes and the closest they came to a winner was substitute Fabian Davis’ strike on 75 minutes that was well held by Calderon. The closing minutes offered little in the way of chances as what was an entertainer encounter petered out into a draw.

Both coaches professed themselves happy with the result and performance in the post-match press conference as well as offering support for the Digicel International Match concept in providing vital matches for developing sides. In truth, Milotinovic will be the happier man tonight after an impressive first home performance and the home fans may just be starting to dream of South Africa 2010 on the strength of the Reggae Boyz’s thrilling football of the opening 45 minutes.

Jamaica: Allien Whittaker, Jermaine Taylor, Demar Phillips, Christopher Harvey, Mario Swaby (Adrian Reid), Donald Stewart (Keneil Moodie), Nicholi Finlayson (Fabian Davis), Lovel Palmer (Kavin Bryan), Fabian Taylor (Andre Redwood), Luton Shelton, Ricardo Gardener

Panama: Jose Calderon, Jose Anthony, Amilcar Henriquez, Reynaldo Anderson, Luis Moreno, Juan Perez, Juan Ramon Solis (Joel Solanilla), Gabriel Gomez (Luis Gallardo), Ricardo Phillips (Regie Arosema), Jose Luis Garces, Blas Perez (Rolando Escobar)