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Reggae Boyz resume normal service at “the Office” in Digicel International Match

Jamaica beats El Salvador comprehensively in first of two games in the Digicel International Match Series

Luton Shelton breaking down the defense to create the  assist for Ricardo Gardener to fire home Jamaica's second goal

Sunday, November 18, 2007 – The National Stadium, Jamaica: Jamaica’s National team started a new era under the guidance of the newly elected Captain Burrell and his board of management in a most positive fashion in front of a near capacity crowd in Kingston by beating El Salvador in the first of the Digicel International Series games.

It was a night for celebration as the large capacity crowd joined by newly elected Prime Minister Bruce Golding accompanied by a number of his cabinet ministers, cheered the star studded Reggae Boyz to a convincing 3-0 home win.

Jamaica who had not participated in an international friendly in some months, got off to a strong start as they attempted to get an early breakthrough against a stubborn El Salvador defence.

In the opening minutes in fact Jamaica’s Demar Phillips looked as if he may give the Central Americans a torrid evening as he twice combined with Luton Shelton to create an opening inside the box but on both occasions he failed to trouble keeper Miguel Moreno in the El Salvador goal.

Moreno was called into action on 10 minutes when Jamal Campbell Ryce cut inside the left full back and hit a thumping effort from an acute angle which Moreno did well to turn around the post.

El Salvador who seemed content in trying to simply contain Jamaica looked as if they were going to require something special to get on the score sheet. And that was almost the case when Eliseo Ortiz stepped up to crack a 25 yard free kick inches over McCallum’s crossbar in the Jamaican goal.

With both teams lacking a central midfield presence it took a wonderful piece of individual magic to kick start this game and to send the crowd into a frenzy of delight.

On 32 minutes Rudolph Austin picked up the ball half way into the El Salvador half and rather than look to take on the large number of defenders in front of him, he simply stepped inside and unleashed an unstoppable shot from all of 35 yards which went high over the despairing dive of Moreno and rested beautifully in the top corner of the net to send the packed crowd wild

With the crowd still celebrating Ricardo Gardener got his first of the night and Jamaica’s second when on 37 minutes he latched onto a lovely through ball from Luton Shelton who had dribbled through 3 defenders before setting up Gardener on a platter 12 yards out, and the English based player made no mistake to make it 2-0.

Despite a late effort from Ortiz which flew inches over the Reggae Boyz bar, the home crowd were able to cheer their heroes into the dressing room at half time as they sat comfortable at 2-0 up.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first with the Jamaicans taking the game to a lack luster El Salvador side. Although the score-line ensured things would be difficult for El Salvador in the remaining 45 minutes it became twice as difficult when on 54 minutes Alfredo Pacheco was shown a straight red card by referee Alfredo Whittaker for violent conduct when he seemed to stamp on defender Shavar Thomas

Reduced to ten men, coach Carlos Alberto de Los Cobos did not seem to consider the lack of bodies his team now had in midfield which forced his side to hit long hopeful balls up front which the Jamaican defence gladly swallowed up all night.

Their only glimmer of hope seemed as if it may come from a set piece from Ortiz who got on every dead ball situation but failed to seriously trouble McCallum in the Jamaican goal at any stage.

Ricardo Gardener sealed their fate when, with 9 minutes remaining, he picked up a pass from the tireless Jermaine Johnson and stroked a beautiful shot with the inside of his talented left foot in off the left hand post from 22 yards out.

The Reggae boyz soaked up the remaining minutes by stroking the ball around much to the delight of the huge home crowd who had now broken into renditions of the Mexican wave.

With the first of the Digicel International Games now successfully completed, Jamaica will look to finish the series on a high note as they now look forward to entertaining Guatemala in the second of the Digicel International Matches on Wednesday night next