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Brown pleased with Cayman's draw in Bermuda
CMC
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
BROWN. we came here expecting a tough game from Bermuda and were prepared for them
HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) - Carl Brown, the former Jamaica head coach, is very pleased that his Cayman Islands players have avoided defeat in their away World Cup qualifying fixture against Bermuda on Sunday evening.
The hosts Bermuda held the upper-hand for most of the match, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw after a late equaliser from the visitors.
Bermuda appeared to waste a great opportunity to take control of the two-leg series, while Brown, who took over as Cayman's coach last year, is comfortable that his side came to the Bermuda National Sports Centre and produced a surprise result.
"Bermuda had plenty of the ball, but we defended very well. We are pleased and this result would've done a lot for the players' confidence," he said.
"We came here expecting a tough game from Bermuda and were prepared for them," added Brown, who was on the coaching staff for Jamaica's historic trip to the 1998 World Cup Finals.
Allean Grant cancelled out Tyrell Burgess' 18th-minute goal when he scored for the visitors in the 86th minute to give the Cayman Islands a psychological advantage heading into next month's second leg.
The draw dismayed Bermuda coach Keith Tucker, who said afterwards: "We totally dominated the game... they (Cayman) never put together four or five passes the whole game. We pretty much controlled the whole match."
When Burgess opened the scoring after collecting a right-wing cross from Kwame Steede and unleashing a powerful right-foot half-volley past flat-footed goalkeeper Tuda Murphy, it seemed Bermuda might run away with the match.
Steede almost doubled the tally in the 25th minute and he could only hold his head in dismay as his well-struck right-foot shot cannoned back off the bar and was scrambled to safety.
Bermuda continued to pile on the pressure after the break, but failed to break down a stubborn Cayman defence again and were left to rue missed chances as Eric Brown collected the ball in the Bermuda half before sending over a pinpoint cross that Grant gleefully tucked away for the late equaliser.
Cayman captain Thomas Elliott said: "I can't say we are 100 per cent happy with the way we played because we gave them a weak goal that was taken really well. Hats off to him (Burgess), but it came from a defensive mistake and so there's always room for improvement.
"For a five-minute spell there we felt like we were backed up. But that's how games go and we just soaked it up and then waited for our opportunity to hit the back of the net.
"I was kind of wondering where it would come from. But Eric (Brown) just threw a little bit of spark at it and put us back into the game."
The second leg will be held in the Caymans on March 30 with the winners going on to meet regional powerhouses Trinidad and Tobago in the next round.
CONCACAF first-leg encounters continue on Wednesday with six more match-ups.
CMC
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
BROWN. we came here expecting a tough game from Bermuda and were prepared for them
HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) - Carl Brown, the former Jamaica head coach, is very pleased that his Cayman Islands players have avoided defeat in their away World Cup qualifying fixture against Bermuda on Sunday evening.
The hosts Bermuda held the upper-hand for most of the match, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw after a late equaliser from the visitors.
Bermuda appeared to waste a great opportunity to take control of the two-leg series, while Brown, who took over as Cayman's coach last year, is comfortable that his side came to the Bermuda National Sports Centre and produced a surprise result.
"Bermuda had plenty of the ball, but we defended very well. We are pleased and this result would've done a lot for the players' confidence," he said.
"We came here expecting a tough game from Bermuda and were prepared for them," added Brown, who was on the coaching staff for Jamaica's historic trip to the 1998 World Cup Finals.
Allean Grant cancelled out Tyrell Burgess' 18th-minute goal when he scored for the visitors in the 86th minute to give the Cayman Islands a psychological advantage heading into next month's second leg.
The draw dismayed Bermuda coach Keith Tucker, who said afterwards: "We totally dominated the game... they (Cayman) never put together four or five passes the whole game. We pretty much controlled the whole match."
When Burgess opened the scoring after collecting a right-wing cross from Kwame Steede and unleashing a powerful right-foot half-volley past flat-footed goalkeeper Tuda Murphy, it seemed Bermuda might run away with the match.
Steede almost doubled the tally in the 25th minute and he could only hold his head in dismay as his well-struck right-foot shot cannoned back off the bar and was scrambled to safety.
Bermuda continued to pile on the pressure after the break, but failed to break down a stubborn Cayman defence again and were left to rue missed chances as Eric Brown collected the ball in the Bermuda half before sending over a pinpoint cross that Grant gleefully tucked away for the late equaliser.
Cayman captain Thomas Elliott said: "I can't say we are 100 per cent happy with the way we played because we gave them a weak goal that was taken really well. Hats off to him (Burgess), but it came from a defensive mistake and so there's always room for improvement.
"For a five-minute spell there we felt like we were backed up. But that's how games go and we just soaked it up and then waited for our opportunity to hit the back of the net.
"I was kind of wondering where it would come from. But Eric (Brown) just threw a little bit of spark at it and put us back into the game."
The second leg will be held in the Caymans on March 30 with the winners going on to meet regional powerhouses Trinidad and Tobago in the next round.
CONCACAF first-leg encounters continue on Wednesday with six more match-ups.
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