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Jamaica's Reggae Boyz delight fans with 2-1 win <DIV class=KonaBody>
By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's Khari Stephenson (right) powering past Canada's Patrice Bernier during yesterday's friendly international at the National Stadium. Jamaica won 2-1. - Ian Allen
A buzz of excitement returned to the National Stadium yesterday as the Reggae Boyz beat Canada 2-1 in their international friendly.
The Boyz avenged their 1-0 defeat in the first game of the home-and-away series when Luton Shelton (35th) and Demar Phillips (37th) responded to an eighth minute strike by Tomasz Radzinski.
The recent home games at 'The Office' at times incurred boos from fans during the Reggae Boyz's uninspiring performance in the Digicel Caribbean Cup where they were eliminated in the first round.
But in yesterday's game, horns and clashing pot covers could be heard resonating throughout the stadium, which was about half full.
While the victory was important for fan support, Jamaica coach, Carl Brown, said the players received a shot in the arm from the win.
"My concern is for the players and I really wanted more than anything else for them to achieve a victory out there and I think it will go a far way in helping the confidence of these players," Brown said.
Perfect timing
It appeared Jamaica were picking up where they left off in the Digicel Cup when Radzinski was left wide open on the right side to waltz into the box, receive a floating pass from Julian de Guzman and blast home past Richard McCallum.
The Reggae Boyz tried to respond a minute later but Damion Stewart's header was misdirected.
An injury to Shane Crawford forced an early substitution after 25 minutes with Demar Phillips replacing him at left back. The Waterhouse player soon made his presence felt as his cross rolled into the box with perfect timing for an advancing Luton Shelton in the 35th minute. Two minutes later, Phillips scored with an excellent shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
"I think he was the player of the day for us," said captain Ricardo Fuller.
Jamaica's confidence built after they took the lead and they kept pressing. But there would be no more goals, marking Jamaica's third of their last four games where they failed to score in the second half.
"I think this a credit to the teams we have been playing," said Brown of the team's inability to score in the second 45 minutes.
"I think we were more threatening in the second half of this game than we were in the (Digicel) tournament," he added, referring to games against St. Lucia and Haiti.
Teafore Bennett, who replaced Shelton in the 75th minute, could have put the Canadians firmly out of the game in the 83rd minute when he was the recipient of one of many brilliant passes from Jermaine Hue. He was set up for a one-on-one with goalie Kenny Stamatopoulos but he drifted too wide and in the end was off balance and kicked across the goal.
Bennett's blunder could have come back to haunt him as Canada pushed for the equaliser with Ali Gerba and captain Kevin McKenna coming close.
"We started brightly in the first half but we gave up too very quick goals but I was very pleased with the second half," said Canada coach Stephen Hart.
"So when you look on both halves, overall I think we were in the game." </DIV>
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