Reggae Boyz blame poor shooting for Spurs draw

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Local-based Reggae Boyz Jermie Lynch and Evan Taylor believe that faulty shooting cost the team a win against English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur in their friendly match in The Bahamas on Thursday night.

The Reggae Boyz, who are preparing for the CONCACAF World Cup-qualifying games against Mexico, United States and Honduras next month, squandered a number of clear-cut opportunities during the match, which ended 0-0 at the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

"It was a pretty good game and we gave a good account of ourselves," Taylor told The Bahamas publication Tribune 242 (tribune 242.com). "We had our chances to win, but football is a sport. Anything is possible in a game."

Taylor said their goal now is to get ready for the qualifiers, but they will take it one game at a time, starting with Mexico on June 4 before they take on the United States three days later. Both games will be played at the National Stadium before the team travels to Honduras to face that country on June 11.

Lynch, who like Taylor plies his trade for Harbour View, believes that the Reggae Boyz have benefited a lot from the experience of playing against some of the top players in the world.

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"It was a very fast pitch and we had our chances, but we just could not capitalise on them, and that's just football," said Lynch.

"Overall, we had a good experience and we look forward to coming back," he said.

Tottenham's custodian Brad Friedel was forced into action midway through the half, diving low to his right to parry away an effort from Reggae Boyz captain Jermaine Hue.

Midfielder Keammar Daley went even closer nine minutes later, cutting in from the left and curling a right-footed shot past the American, which cannoned off the outside of the post.

Hue was involved once again on the stroke of half-time, blasting over with a free-kick from the right as the players exited the field to the sounds of vuvuzelas.

Tottenham's Steven Caulker had a tap in ruled for offside late in the second half.