Tweet
Taken from www.jamaicaobserver.com
Reggae Boyz snatch late winner on tour of Brazil
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports Editor
Sunday, March 02, 2008
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Jamaica's local-based Reggae Boyz started a seven-match friendly tour with a 1-0 win over Tigers of Brazil at the latters' home turf here yesterday.
Newton Sterling of Waterhouse found the net in the 90th minute to snatch the morale-boosting victory for the visitors who are here for a three-week training camp that ends on March 18.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Technical director, Brazilian Rene Simoes (standing 3rd right), addresses the Reggae Boyz on Friday while Theodore Whitmore (2nd right), and Howard Bell look on. (Photo: Sean Williams) Jamaica were originally scheduled to play another second division side, Real De Janeiro yesterday, but were replaced by the Tigers late.
After dominating the second division leaders of the Rio de Janeiro State Cup, the win could be considered justifiable.
The goal came after Eric Vernon was sent loose down the right side by Desmond Breakenridge. The small but slippery Vernon looped a ball over the heads of the Tigers defenders for an onrushing Sterling to tap home.
Technical director Rene Simoes attributed the Jamaicans' performance to sheer maturity and believed his efforts to improve team confidence has begun to bear fruits.
"I think it was a good game... as I have been singing and saying, these players are more organised and professional that those that I saw when I came here in 1994...
"The main target is that they came and faced Brazilians and they proved they can face Brazilians," said Simoes, who is in his second stint as TD.
Although it is Simoes' plan to get stronger opposition for the team in upcoming games, he said yesterday's opponents were ideal for the opening fixture and stressed that the Boyz played a good team.
"Today (yesterday) the team was the best team we could get to play... after you left the aeroplane and come here and if you play against Flamengo, what would happen? It would be a disaster, so we play this team which is a second division team and they are professionals and they are a good team," he said.
Simoes, who guided Jamaica to their historic qualification to the World Cup Finals in France in 1998, said the Tigers underestimated the quality of Jamaica and were knocked off their rhythm early in the contest.
"They didn't expect Jamaica to play the way they did. On another day they would play much better and the result could be different," he noted.
Jamaica's first scoring chance came as early in the fourth minute when Oraine Simpson of Tivoli Gardens sped down his favourite right side to cross to Meadhaven frontman Keamar Daley, but the latter fired directly at goalkeeper Thiagi deSouza.
There were also scoring chances for the visitors in the 20th, 35th and 40th minutes, but poor finishing or indecisiveness let them down.
Every member of the Jamaica 24-man squad played yesterday.
Jamaica will next play the Estacio de Sa University tomorrow at a time to be determined.
Reggae Boyz snatch late winner on tour of Brazil
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports Editor
Sunday, March 02, 2008
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Jamaica's local-based Reggae Boyz started a seven-match friendly tour with a 1-0 win over Tigers of Brazil at the latters' home turf here yesterday.
Newton Sterling of Waterhouse found the net in the 90th minute to snatch the morale-boosting victory for the visitors who are here for a three-week training camp that ends on March 18.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Technical director, Brazilian Rene Simoes (standing 3rd right), addresses the Reggae Boyz on Friday while Theodore Whitmore (2nd right), and Howard Bell look on. (Photo: Sean Williams) Jamaica were originally scheduled to play another second division side, Real De Janeiro yesterday, but were replaced by the Tigers late.After dominating the second division leaders of the Rio de Janeiro State Cup, the win could be considered justifiable.
The goal came after Eric Vernon was sent loose down the right side by Desmond Breakenridge. The small but slippery Vernon looped a ball over the heads of the Tigers defenders for an onrushing Sterling to tap home.
Technical director Rene Simoes attributed the Jamaicans' performance to sheer maturity and believed his efforts to improve team confidence has begun to bear fruits.
"I think it was a good game... as I have been singing and saying, these players are more organised and professional that those that I saw when I came here in 1994...
"The main target is that they came and faced Brazilians and they proved they can face Brazilians," said Simoes, who is in his second stint as TD.
Although it is Simoes' plan to get stronger opposition for the team in upcoming games, he said yesterday's opponents were ideal for the opening fixture and stressed that the Boyz played a good team.
"Today (yesterday) the team was the best team we could get to play... after you left the aeroplane and come here and if you play against Flamengo, what would happen? It would be a disaster, so we play this team which is a second division team and they are professionals and they are a good team," he said.
Simoes, who guided Jamaica to their historic qualification to the World Cup Finals in France in 1998, said the Tigers underestimated the quality of Jamaica and were knocked off their rhythm early in the contest.
"They didn't expect Jamaica to play the way they did. On another day they would play much better and the result could be different," he noted.
Jamaica's first scoring chance came as early in the fourth minute when Oraine Simpson of Tivoli Gardens sped down his favourite right side to cross to Meadhaven frontman Keamar Daley, but the latter fired directly at goalkeeper Thiagi deSouza.
There were also scoring chances for the visitors in the 20th, 35th and 40th minutes, but poor finishing or indecisiveness let them down.
Every member of the Jamaica 24-man squad played yesterday.
Jamaica will next play the Estacio de Sa University tomorrow at a time to be determined.
Comment