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November 21, 2007

Reggae Boyz finish Digicel Series in style with commanding performance against Guatemala

Demar Phillips making a move past defendor Nestor Martinez

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 – The National Stadium, Jamaica: Jamaica completed their Digicel International Series with a comprehensive win over Guatemala highlighting them as serious contenders in the upcoming World Cup qualification process.

The Reggae Boyz seemed to have a greater urgency about them than in their previous Digicel International Match against El Salvador on Sunday, and certainly the outstanding partnership in central midfield between Rudolph Austin and Oneil Thompson was a contributing factor as the two dominated the middle of the park, bossed Guatemala around, and orchestrated most play for Jamaica in the opening half.

This was in stark contrast to the El Salvador game and indeed was the missing ingredient that the huge Jamaican crowd had waited for.

It took only 4 minutes for the 20,000 home crowd to be brought to life when Luton Shelton somehow managed to miss the target from 3 yards with the goal at his mercy when his downward header bounced high over the crossbar to the relief of the Guatemalan side and the astonishment of the rain soaked crowd.

The Reggae Boyz continued to dominate and their early pressure paid off when on 10 minutes the experienced Ricardo Fuller disposed the Guatemalan centre half Gustavo Cabrera, dribbled the ball into the box and clipped the ball beautifully over the advancing Luis Molina as he darted from the Central American’s goal line.

Not content with a one goal advantage and wanting to take advantage of their early dominance Jamaica pushed for a second which nearly arrived on 16 minutes when Rudolph Austin controlled an attempted clearance from a corner on his chest and let fly from the edge of the box to see his volley whiz past the post.

It was all Jamaica at this stage and the second came on 21 minutes when Austin turned provider and hit a fantastic ball from the half way line over the top of the Guatemalan defence for winger Omar Daley to run on to.

Daley took the ball on with a beautiful first touch, cut inside the full back, who had turned to try and recover his position, and from inside 12 yards calmly slotted the ball into the far left corner of the goal with a perfectly angled curled shot to make it 2-0.

Guatemala to their credit tried in vain to get back into this game and did have the ball in the net on 25 minutes but Lester Ruiz’s header was ruled out after the diminutive striker was ruled offside.

The second half continued in the same vein but with a 2-0 lead the Reggae Boyz seemed more confident than determined and set about trying to coolly dismantle their Central American visitors. On 52 minutes midfield general Oneil Thompson was guilty of a terrible miss when his header from Demar Phillips beautifully flighted corner somehow went outside the far post instead of inside and bulging the net.

The provider Phillips took his turn as culprit on 81 minutes when he blazed the ball over the bar when one on one with Molina after some fantastic passing and movement down the right flank between Fuller and substitute Dane Richards had set him up on a platter to make it 3.

Rudolph Austin did have one last late chance to bag another goal for Jamaica but in the end Guatemala survived and managed to escape on a scoreline that scarcely justified the manner in which the Jamaican side repaid their massive loyal home crowd who braved the elements to cheer on their national heroes in a compelling victory.

Newly appointed JFF President Captain Burrell and his Vice President Horace Reid must travel to South Africa this weekend for the World Cup qualification draw with a quiet sense of confidence after their Reggae Boyz took a 100% return on games played in this years Digicel International Series.

• Jamaica: Donovan Ricketts; Rudolph Austin; Christopher Jackson (Wolry Wolfe 59’), Ian Goodison (Sean Fraser 62’) Omar Daley (Ricardo Geddes 59’) Demar Phillips, Luton Shelton (Dane Richards 19’) Ricardo Fuller, Tyrone Marshall; Shavar Thomas (Damar Stewart 45’) Oneil Thompson

• Guatemala: Luis Molina, Gustavo Cabrera, Yony Flores, Nestor Martinez, Leonel Noreiga (Saul de Matta 53’), Rigoberto Gomez (Serlvin Motta 25’), Dwight Pezzarossi (Transito Montepeque 70’), Claudio Alvizuris, Freddy Thompson, Carlos Quinonez, Lester Ruiz (Cotto Aroldo 34’)