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Game Jamaica draw
published: Thursday | February 7, 2008
Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaica's Jamal Campbell-Ryce forces his way past Costa Rica's Andres Nunez during last night's friendly at the National Stadium, which ended 1-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
TYRONE MARSHALL transformed what would have been utter grief into jubilation by scoring an injury-time equaliser with his head that gave Jamaica's Reggae Boyz a 1-1 draw after the hosts had dominated Costa Rica in their friendly international at the National Stadium last night.
The vastly experienced Marshall, a sure-footed utility player who competes as a pro at Toronto FC in the MLS, met a well-floated cross from Marlon King - who had taken a short corner off Ricardo Gardner - on the edge of the six-yard box and buried the ball into goal with precision to create a massive eruption among the 30-odd thousand Jamaicans who had great hopes of a victory.
Such dreams got a crucial dent at the 80th minute when William Sunsing, on the field for barely two minutes, ran between central defenders Ian Goodison and Damion Stewart to place the ball along the goal wide enough to beat the lunge of advancing Jamaican goalie, Donovan Ricketts, and nestle it into the net - the goal coming totally against the run of play, threatening to spoil the 'Office' return of technical director Rene Simoes and striker Marlon King, reprieved months off a two-year ban.
Speechless fans
If one had dropped a pin inside the stadium at that moment it might have been heard among the throng of speechless fans whose team was in command from the get-go.
In the first half, Jamaica went closest to scoring when their captain, Gardner, whipped in a cross from the left and Demar Phillips instinctively and spectacularly leapt high, with his back to goal, and pulled off a 'bicycle' kick that hit the upright and came back into play without a reaction from goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez.
Excellent opportunities
Jamaica continued to get some excellent opportunities as they dominated and looked particularly menacing by constructing many attacks that ended in front the goal of a Costa Rican team which looked vulnerable to the dribble, especially when Ricardo Fuller - bothersome all night - had the ball at his feet.
Fuller actually fired one over goal from the top of the penalty box in the 18th-minute, and a minute later Marlon King appeared odds-on to score after Marshall, playing the defensive right flank, made a long, mazy dribble and knifed a pass between the defenders. On an angle about seven yards from goal, King shot high.
The finish over goal and play on the right were features of Jamaica's play in the opening 45 minutes as the team worked worked a number of squares from that side, only to make lofty attempts that flew over the goal.
The attacking play that forced Costa Rica to defend in numbers, and a suffocating midfield set-up with the front two of Phillips and Jamal Campbell-Ryce quickly taking away any room, and anchors Rudolph Austin and Jason Morrison making the interceptions that transferred possession, took the threat out of Costa Rica's attacks.
Though they got three corners and made one grounded cross from open play, the Central Americans, whose efforts to stay competitive were led by Bryan Ruiz, Alvaro Saborio and Walter Centeno, never gave the Jamaicans a moment to fret.
WhiIe life was easy for the Jamaican defence, it was somewhat frustrating for Costa Rica whose game got noticeably more aggressive near the half hour, and they laid down challenges that forced Fuller and Morrison into treatment on the sidelines.
Morrison would be one of a sparingly used bunch of substitutions by Simoes in the second half, but he played his part in contributing to a siege on the Costa Rican goal for the first 20 minutes when it appeared Jamaica would score.
Blocking shots
Phillips, King and Austin with a torrid pile-driver from near 35 yards had shots on goal saved, but those statistics did not tell the tale of a Costa Rican team hemmed into its defensive third and forced into making hurried clearances, blocking shots and doing just about anything to divert an opportunity.
Their coach, Hernan Medford, rang the changes to change the tide and though it was not enough to give them any semblance of authority, Sunsing's fresh legs and quick feet against tiring defenders brought them the desired result of a goal - a go-ahead and utterly despairing one at that.
Jamaica remained composed and continued to pound at the door until Marshall answered with a header.
published: Thursday | February 7, 2008
Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaica's Jamal Campbell-Ryce forces his way past Costa Rica's Andres Nunez during last night's friendly at the National Stadium, which ended 1-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
TYRONE MARSHALL transformed what would have been utter grief into jubilation by scoring an injury-time equaliser with his head that gave Jamaica's Reggae Boyz a 1-1 draw after the hosts had dominated Costa Rica in their friendly international at the National Stadium last night.
The vastly experienced Marshall, a sure-footed utility player who competes as a pro at Toronto FC in the MLS, met a well-floated cross from Marlon King - who had taken a short corner off Ricardo Gardner - on the edge of the six-yard box and buried the ball into goal with precision to create a massive eruption among the 30-odd thousand Jamaicans who had great hopes of a victory.
Such dreams got a crucial dent at the 80th minute when William Sunsing, on the field for barely two minutes, ran between central defenders Ian Goodison and Damion Stewart to place the ball along the goal wide enough to beat the lunge of advancing Jamaican goalie, Donovan Ricketts, and nestle it into the net - the goal coming totally against the run of play, threatening to spoil the 'Office' return of technical director Rene Simoes and striker Marlon King, reprieved months off a two-year ban.
Speechless fans
If one had dropped a pin inside the stadium at that moment it might have been heard among the throng of speechless fans whose team was in command from the get-go.
In the first half, Jamaica went closest to scoring when their captain, Gardner, whipped in a cross from the left and Demar Phillips instinctively and spectacularly leapt high, with his back to goal, and pulled off a 'bicycle' kick that hit the upright and came back into play without a reaction from goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez.
Excellent opportunities
Jamaica continued to get some excellent opportunities as they dominated and looked particularly menacing by constructing many attacks that ended in front the goal of a Costa Rican team which looked vulnerable to the dribble, especially when Ricardo Fuller - bothersome all night - had the ball at his feet.
Fuller actually fired one over goal from the top of the penalty box in the 18th-minute, and a minute later Marlon King appeared odds-on to score after Marshall, playing the defensive right flank, made a long, mazy dribble and knifed a pass between the defenders. On an angle about seven yards from goal, King shot high.
The finish over goal and play on the right were features of Jamaica's play in the opening 45 minutes as the team worked worked a number of squares from that side, only to make lofty attempts that flew over the goal.
The attacking play that forced Costa Rica to defend in numbers, and a suffocating midfield set-up with the front two of Phillips and Jamal Campbell-Ryce quickly taking away any room, and anchors Rudolph Austin and Jason Morrison making the interceptions that transferred possession, took the threat out of Costa Rica's attacks.
Though they got three corners and made one grounded cross from open play, the Central Americans, whose efforts to stay competitive were led by Bryan Ruiz, Alvaro Saborio and Walter Centeno, never gave the Jamaicans a moment to fret.
WhiIe life was easy for the Jamaican defence, it was somewhat frustrating for Costa Rica whose game got noticeably more aggressive near the half hour, and they laid down challenges that forced Fuller and Morrison into treatment on the sidelines.
Morrison would be one of a sparingly used bunch of substitutions by Simoes in the second half, but he played his part in contributing to a siege on the Costa Rican goal for the first 20 minutes when it appeared Jamaica would score.
Blocking shots
Phillips, King and Austin with a torrid pile-driver from near 35 yards had shots on goal saved, but those statistics did not tell the tale of a Costa Rican team hemmed into its defensive third and forced into making hurried clearances, blocking shots and doing just about anything to divert an opportunity.
Their coach, Hernan Medford, rang the changes to change the tide and though it was not enough to give them any semblance of authority, Sunsing's fresh legs and quick feet against tiring defenders brought them the desired result of a goal - a go-ahead and utterly despairing one at that.
Jamaica remained composed and continued to pound at the door until Marshall answered with a header.
(Reuters)
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