THREE RAPID-FIRE first half goals by the United States yesterday put paid to any plans Jamaica had of avenging an early week defeat to their CONCACAF rivals when the two under-20 teams met in a friendly football international in Sunrise, Florida.
Coming off a 1-0 loss on Tuesday at the same venue, the young Reggae Boyz were swamped by strikes in the 26th, 32nd and 33rd minutes by the Freddy Adu-less U.S., before another goal in the 61st minute finalised the 4-0 scoreline.
Dejected
The result left Jamaica's coaching staff and players dejected, especially after the team's promising showing in a tournament in Germany earlier this month, coupled with the fact that the U.S. were playing their third game in as many days, having beaten Haiti 1-0 on Wednesday night.
"It's disapointing that we didn't score," said Wendell Downswell, who admitted that the team needed to toughen up mentally. "Unfortunately we played two matches, 180 minutes, and didn't score. I think that was one of the most disappointing things. Plus we conceded five goals."
Jamaica started yesterday with a team that featured several changes from Tuesday's match, and initially the moves paid dividends. Using four defenders and four midfielders, the young Boyz looked confident and compact early.
Central midfielders Duran Myton and Nicholi Findlayson, both of whom were not among Tuesday's starters, helped stifle the U.S. attacks, while the skilful Akeem Priestly and Howard Wong roamed the flanks as Jamaica directed several shots toward goal.
But then a series of lapses essentially ended their resistance. The first came on the offensive end. In the 20th minute Dean Thompson, who had replaced an ineffective Luton Shelton from Tuesday's starting team, latched onto a perfect through pass from strike partner Richard West. But he shot tamely to goalkeeper Justin Hughes from well inside the penalty box.
The lapses then spilled over to the other end. And those proved far more costly. No Jamaican defender was alert enough to pick up Stuart Holden, who darted down the right side of the box to collect a free kick and crossed for Will John to deflect into the net past goalkeeper Ralston Robinson.
Jamaica shot back immediately, but Priestly's scorching left foot drive just skipped past the upright with Hughes beaten.
Substitutions
Yet the US were not done and the loose marking in Jamaica's defence again cost the Boyz. An inswinging corner from the talented left fullback Christian Jiminez was easily flicked past Robinson by an unmarked Kamani Hill, and a minute later an overlapping Jiminez calmly chipped a through ball over the advancing Robinson after being left unmarked once again.
The third goal forced a battery of substitutions by Jamaica before the first half was over. Shelton joined West and Thompson as Jamaica searched for more power up front, Adrian Reid replaced captain Keiron Bernard in defence, while the aggressive Rodolph Austin came on for right back Keneil Moodie.
The changes appeared to stem the U.S. rampage and lift the sagging spirits of the Boyz. Just after the break Austin cracked a 25-yard free kick just over the crossbar but it was soon clear that the purposeful running and ball movement by the U.S. would not allow Jamaica back into the game. They would also lead to goal number four. A neatly floated pass inside Jamaica's box found John again unmarked and he easily flicked past Robinson to wrap up the scoring.
Jamaica did miss another great scoring chance. Late squad invitee Dominic McDonald, who lives in the U.S., was sent clear by substitute Ricardo Cousins, but his shot was parried by Hughes and then cleared off the goal-line by the U.S.
The loss ended Jamaica's training camp in South Florida, which is part of the team's preparation for youth World Cup qualification matches beginning in August. The numerous changes to Tuesday's starting team, according to Downswell, was part of the plan to offer as many Boyz exposure with those games in mind.
"We wanted to give some of the youngsters the opportunity to see how they would equip themselves," he said. "...It is useless we bring them here and don't thrown them in to have a look at them."
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in Miami.
