FILE - PRIESTLYJAMAICA'S REGGAE Boyz secured a 1-1 draw against St. Lucia in their first-leg Digicel Caribbean Cup match at the Vieux Fort National Stadium in St. Lucia yesterday afternoon.
Akeem Priestly scored at the 44th minute for Jamaica to equalise, after conceding a free-kick goal at the 23rd minute that was scored by Elijah Joseph.
The Jamaicans played most of the match with 10 men as their captain, Andy Williams, was shown the red card for a tackle on Joseph in the first half.
Jamaican coach Wendell Downswell called the expulsion "unfortunate" and said it spoilt their victory hopes.
"He was unfortunate in my opinion and many people don't feel it was justified.
"At that time we definitely gained the ascendancy and we had to re-adjust."
Given that incident and other factors off the pitch, Downswell, recently appointed coach of the Caribbean's number one ranked Boyz, called the result "very good".
VERY GOOD RESULT
"Taking into consideration the factors, we see it as a very good result," he told The Gleaner in a telephone interview after the contest.
"Our preparation was not ideal coming into this game as some of them (players) came out of the Caribbean Club Championship final with bruises; we didn't lose the game and we were down to 10 players; we had only one training session over here (St. Lucia); and we didn't get to train on the surface on which the match was played."
Seven of Downswell's 18-member squad played in Wednesday's bruising regional club championship first-leg final, including the man who scored yesterday, Priestly. In fact, it was Priestly's 82nd minute goal which earned Harbour View a 1-1 draw with Tivoli.
Three of Jamaica's players were also ruled out of the St. Lucia clash because of injuries sustained last Wednesday - midfield general Jermaine Hue, Robert Scarlett and reserve 'keeper Ryan Thompson and Downswell, anticipating their return to the team for the second tie at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday, said "...the good thing about it is we'll have all the players for the next leg".
Due to yesterday's result, Jamaica will advance if they win or finish the return match in a goalless tie (on the basis of the away goal rule) but Downswell confidently stated he wants to close out the qualifying series with victory.
"Our intention is to win from the first half," he stated.
CHALLENGING RETURN LEG
"I don't see it as a difficult task, it will be challenging but I don't see it as a difficult task."
Asked if the St. Lucians are as tough as the 1-1 result suggests, Downswell replied "...no, it was a spirited performance from them".
He added: "We'll have one week to prepare, that will definitely be a fillip for us going into the next game."
In other second round qualifiers yesterday, Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean's number two team, crushed the British Virgin Islands 4-0 in Road Town, Tortola, while St. Vincent and the Grenadines gave themselves a great opportunity of advancing to the third with a 3-1 victory over Grenada in Kingstown.
