Reggae Boyz defeat T&T

Audley Boyd, Associate Editor - Sports

TUNAPUNA, Trinidad:

THE REGGAE Boyz registered a comfortable 3-1 win over Trini-dad and Tobago's Soca Warriors in their international friendly football match at the Marvin Lee Stadium yesterday.

"I think it was a very spirited performance from both teams, given the rivalry they've had," said Theodore Whitmore, Jamaica's head coach. "I think overall it was a very good performance from the Jamaican team."

Dane Richards (8th), Rudolph Austin (31st pen) and Kavin Bryan (53rd) scored for Jamaica.

Devon Jorsling scored for Trinidad and Tobago at the 29th-minute mark.

The Jamaicans ended the game with 10 men, as Austin was given a straight red card at the 80th minute, presumably for dissent, as he was not the player who had made the tackle when Barbadian referee Trevor Taylor called the foul.

Despite that expulsion, the home team could not capitalise because in much the same way they played all night, they were hardly allowed to create clear scoring chances against a Jamaican defence that marked tightly for most parts and shut down their plays quickly.

More dangerous

Jamaica, in the meantime, were far more dangerous at the offensive end, especially when they hit on the counter with raids through the flanks and the centre of the field.

"I thought that tonight, defensively, we were a disaster," said Trinidad and Tobago's coach, Russell Latapy. We defended like schoolboys. Based on where we want to go that performance tonight was not up to par."

Latapy, whose team comprised a lot of young players, mostly under 25 years, admitted they could have lost by a wider margin.

"I don't like the three goals that were scored against us ... and I thought that we were a bit fortunate that we didn't give up another goal," Latapy surmised.

Jamaica took the lead in the eighth minute when Kavin Bryan's shot deflected to Richards, who hit a powerful shot from the top of the penalty box that travelled beautifully into the pigeonhole.

They were more controlled in their play and continued to dominate while making the more dangerous attacking moves and should have widened their lead at the 20th minute when Ryan Johnson dribbled close to the byline and cut back the ball along the ground. It was met by Richards at the six-yard line in the centre of goal, but unbelievably, he lifted the ball with the side of his boot over the crossbar.

Equaliser

Trinidad and Tobago equalised at the 29th following through a bit of complacency by the Jamaicans, as a couple of defenders backed off Keon Daniel and allowed him to cross the ball unchallenged. The square went in the midst of goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and his central defenders; Jorsling burst through the centre, stretched fully and used the side of his boot to guide the ball past the advancing Ricketts.

Before the cheers could subside, the Reggae Boyz snuffed out Trinidadian joy by scoring for the second time through Austin's penalty. Johnson, who was very effective on the left, while dribbling, was brought down inside the six-yard area by debutant defender Carlyle Mitchell.

The powerfully built Austin stepped up to score a perfectly placed grounder that went well beyond the reach of goalie Jan Michael Williams.

Jamaica never displayed the same level of dominance in the second half, but did enough to keep the Trinidadians at bay and hold their advantage to end, while adding another goal.

Bryan scored in the 53rd minute with a well-placed header which beat the advancing custodian Williams to secure the win over their rivals.

Starting Teams

Jamaica: 1-Donovan Ricketts (C), 2-Richard Edwards,4-Shavar Thomas, 7-Ryan Johnson, 8-Eric Vernan, 9-Kavin Bryan, 10-Dane Richards, 11-Troy Smith, 16-Dicoy Williams, 17-Rudolph Austin.

Trinidad and Tobago: 21-Jan Michael Williams (GK), 3-Aklie Edwards, 4-Kerry Baptiste, 6-Keston Williams, 7-Hughton Hector, 8-Trent Noel (C), 9-Devon Jorsling, 16-Makan Heslop, 17-Carlyle Mitchell, 19-Keon Daniel.