Audley Boyd, Assistant Sports Editor

Jamaica striker Ricardo Fuller (right) shrugs off a challenge from Guatemalan defender Yony Flores on the way to scoring the home team's opening goal during their international friendly match at the National Stadium last night. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff photographer

THE REGGAE Boyz continued to restore their status in international football with their second victory over a Central American opponent inside four days, blanking Guatemala 2-0 in a wet friendly at the National Stadium last night.

At 'The Office', where they were impregnable while building a reputation just over a decade ago, Ricardo Fuller (10th) and Omar Daley (22nd) scored for the Jamaicans, whose FIFA ranking had slipped more than 50 places to an all-time low 103, as the country remained largely inactive and played without most of its top players, who are based overseas under professional contracts.

They played their first match since June 2 on Sunday and scored an emphatic 3-0 win over El Salvador.

Jamaica got out of the blocks quickly and forced the Guatemalans back into their defensive third with some speedy and forceful attacking play.

Dangerous crosses

They succeeded in getting in two dangerous crosses from the right, the first from Omar Daley, which was picked off by the goalkeeper, and the next by Ricardo Fuller, who picked out striker partner Luton Shelton with pinpoint accuracy at goalmouth. However, to the disappointment of the more than 15,000 spectators, his side-footed effort bounced into the turf then over the bar.

With Jamaica pressing relentlessly the promise finally came to fruition when Ricardo Fuller scored in the 10th minute. The goal emanated from a long ball from sweeper Shavar Thomas which was turned on with the outside of the boot for Fuller. Guatemala's Yony Flores miscued an attempted clearance into the path of Fuller, who shrugged off a defender and then bore down at unprotected goalkeeper Luis Motta, who had to commit. Fuller then skilfully chipped the ball over his body.

In the 22nd minute, Rudolph Austin lifted a perfect pass behind the defence for Daley to get a free run at goal from the right flank. He drifted inside and with an open shot, shaped to kick before cutting inside a fully committed defender, then placed a grounder neatly into the far side of the goal to double Jamaica's lead at the 22nd minute.

Guatemala had to do some-thing t the flow, as they appeared headed for a big loss. They made two substitutions which were able to improve their play, especially after the rains subsided by the 25th minute.