By Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaica's football coach Sebastiao Lazaroni (far right) has the full attention of his players at yesterday's final training session at the National Stadium. Jamaica will play El Salvador today in a crucial World Cup qualifying game. - RICARDO MAKYN/Staff Photographer
IN RECENT years, El Salvador have a way of being there for Jamaica's Reggae Boyz in their greatest time of need.
This evening's World Cup qualifier is another opportune moment for the Jamaicans to stamp their class on the Central Ameri-cans as they chase three crucial points.
That would significantly strengthen their goal of claiming one of two qualifying spots from this Group One quadrangular semi-final series in which all the teams boast a mathematical chance to advance.
The Boyz are joint second in the group on five points with Panama, three behind the front-running United States. El Salvador are at the bottom of the standings on three points, all secured in a win over Panama.
With two rounds to go, there could be a dramatic shift in the standings and the Jamaicans will be playing to come out on the top end.
Their only victory in this round was scored against El Salvador in San Salvador several weeks ago. At that point, the Jamaicans were at the bottom of the group and badly needed a win.
They got it, and handsomely too, with a double from Marlon King and another from Micah Hyde in the first half to win 3-0.
A similar situation had faced the Boyz on their successful Road to France campaign when they lined up for battle against the Salvadoreans in a final round match-up at the National Stadium. They desperately needed a win and were deserted by their countrymen.
Before a handful of spectators, Andy Williams rifled a low shot from deep midfield that bounced awkwardly in front of the goalkeeper for the game's only goal.
FINDING A WAY
Williams numbers among few players from that 1997 squad who are driving this campaign for the Boyz to get to Germany 2006 and he showed his worth by coming off the bench to bolster the team in their 1-1 draw in Panama City last Saturday evening.
Another member of the France '98 cast, team captain Theodore Whitmore, scored the goal against Panama on a second attempt to finish a beautiful play by striker Ricardo Fuller.
With a bit more fortune, or better finishing, Whitmore might have added a game-winner had he netted off another delightful move from Fuller by scoring an open shot from goalmouth.
Fortunate or not, the Boyz will have to find a way to come up with a goal or enough to win to hurdle a potentially dangerous late challenge from Panama, who now hold an inferior position in the goal difference column. However, if both teams remain tied at the end of their round-robin fixtures, then head-to-head match-ups in this round, and not goal difference, will be used as a tie-breaker.
Panama beat the Boyz 2-1 here and Saturday's draw gave them four of a maximum six points. The draw gave Jamaica one point.
There is bound to be at least one change to the starting line-up, with Hyde out by virtue of yellow card bookings. First-string goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who needs to exert greater command over his goal area, injured his back in Panama while making a goal-saving dive and was listed as touch-and-go, which gives perennial reserve Aaron Lawrence a 50-50 shot.
THE FAVOURITES
Like their play, the back line has not been steady but Tyrone Marshall, Ricardo Gardner and Claude Davis have most often been favoured, leaving strongman Ian Goodison, Craig Ziadie and Damion Stewart contenders for the other spot.
Whatever the combination, the key is to keep this much changed El Salvador team off the scoresheet.
"This El Salvador team still do have a chance of qualifying for the next round," said Jamaica's technical director, Carl Brown.
"They have made five changes to the squad, they have a new coach coming in. We are certainly going to see a different El Salva-dor team here," Brown said.
