Jamaica's midfielder Oneil 'Bigga' Thompson rises above Guadeloupe defender Jean Luc Lambourde to head his team into a 1-0 lead during last night's Digicel Caribbean Championship semi-final encounter at the National Stadium. Jamaica won 2-0. - ricardo makyn

JAMAICA last night joined Grenada in Sunday's final of the Digicel Caribbean Championship with a patient 2-0 win over Guadeloupe, getting goals from Oneil Thompson and Luton Shelton in the in the 11th and 57th minutes, respectively.

Grenada earlier beat Cuba 6-5 on penalties in the first game of the double-header at the National Stadium after the teams played to a 2-2 draw at the end of normal and extra time.

Junior Williams scored the winning penalty for Grenada after Reysandry Fernandez missed Cuba's seventh kick from the penalty spot.

Guadeloupe, who advanced from Group B of the preliminary round as runners-up to Cuba, started bright, playing a tight midfield in a 4-5-1 formation, using six-footer Antoine-Crier as a lone striker.

Guadeloupe looked good in the opening exchanges, stringing passes in midfield, but Jamaica broke up their advances whenever they passed the half-line.

Tight defence

Striker Dane Richards breached their tight defence in the seventh minute but his effort from the left side of the six-yard box was ruled offside by Salvadoran referee Joel Aguillar.

It did not take long for the Boyz to make amends as a second corner from the right side, an in-swinging left-footer taken by Demar Phillips, was met by unmarked Thompson at the back post.

The six-foot midfielder, turned defender by new Reggae Boyz coach, John Barnes, rose high in the six-yard box to power in his header.

Guadeloupe drew into their shells after the opening goal while Jamaica took over midfield, playing the ball around.

Rodolph Austin tested goalkeeper Franck Grandel with a half-volley from just outside the box in the 23rd but the Guadeloupe keeper was equal to the task.

The half ended with Dwayne Miller replacing injured Donovan Ricketts in the 38th and the home crowd growing restless as Jamaica were content to pass the ball around.

Impatient crowd

At the resumption, the by-now impatient crowd, wanting to see more goals or the Boyz playing to the gallery, even started booing back passes.

They got their wish in the 57th when Shelton got what he wanted all night, a foot race, which he won against Cedrc Avinel, sprinting into the box on a long pass sent down the middle of the pitch by Thompson.

The speedy striker paced himself well against the slower Avinel, drifted just wide of the advancing keeper and slotted around him from inside the box.

However, the Boyz almost paid the price of one too many balls back to the keeper, Demar Stewart being the culprit in the 73rd, forcing Miller to rush off his line and make a sliding tackle to clear the ball from the feet of Antoine-Curier inside the 18-yard box.

Shelton should have made it 3-0 in the 76th after bringing down a firm pass from Austin but shot high from eight yards with a defender hounding him.

However, the 2-0 margin was enough for the Boyz, who will now go for a shot at their third Caribbean title and US$150,000 first prize against Grenada, who they had trounced 4-0 in the first round.

Jamaica's Luton Shelton (right) getting away from Guadeloupe's Ludovic Quistin (left) during last night's Digicel Caribbean Championship semi-final at the National Stadium. Jamaica won 2-0 and will meet Grenada in Sunday's final. Grenada defeated Cuba 6-5 on penalties in the other semi-final. The teams had played to a 2-2 scoreline after full and extra-time. ricardo makyn