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T&T snatch late draw against Reggae Boyz
Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
Jamaica's Luton Shelton (centre) can't believe his luck after missing a goal against Trinidad and Tobago during a friendly match last night at the National Stadium. At right, Trinidad goalie Jan Michael Williams gestures while Keyeno Thomas looks on. - Ian Allen
TRINIDAD and TOBAGO last night snatched a 2-2 draw at the death from the Reggae Boyz when Aurtis Whitley booted a long-range shot, from 25 yards out, past substitute goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr.
The Soca Warriors benefited from sloppy defending on the Boyz's part to rally from two goals down in the first-half after a classy strike from Marlon King and a clean finish by the overlapping veteran, Tyrone Marshall, put Jamaica 2-0 up after 40 minutes.
Jamaica, ranked 10 places lower than Trinidad, who are 93rd on FIFA's latest list, went in cruising on a 2-0 lead at half-time but fell apart in the second half after King and starting goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts, were substituted at the restart.
Trinidad, who always looked dangerous, especially on set-plays in the first half, got a breather after the injured Omar Daley, who bothered them all night with his pace down the right flank, was substituted in the 67th minute.
The Soca Warriors started pressing Jamaica inside their half and substitute Osei Telesford breached the Boyz backline on the right side of goal in the 75th minute, firing his shot past an onrushing Kerr.
Deon Burton, the 1998 Road to France hero, who got a surprise recall from Brazilian coach Rene Simoes, should have made it safe for the Boyz before Telesford scored in the 69th minute but dragged his shot wide of the far post from inside the box.
Jamaica were made to pay in the dying moments when an unmarked Whitley spotted Kerr just off his line and hit a shot, which went well to the right of the Portmore United goalkeeper, earning a draw for the Trinidadians, whose small number of supporters broke out into song and celebration.
Jamaica's supporters were left high and dry after the Boyz first-half display.
King, the Wigan striker, showed a touch of class from just outside the area in the 34th minute, serving his marker a deadly dummy, with his back turned to goal, before turning to place his shot on a penny inside goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams' far post.
The Reggae Boyz roared ahead 2-0 in the 40th minute when Marshall, who had a goal disallowed for off-side four minutes earlier, collected a long diagonal pass on the right flank from Demar Phillips and dribbled into the box to blast past Williams.
The Boyz missed at least two good chances before leading.
In the fourth minute, Daley broke down the right flank but the Trinidadian goalie was off his line quickly to deny him.
A minute later, Luton Shelton sent his header, from goalmouth, over the bar off a cross from Daley.
In the eighth, another Daley cross caught young Obrian Woodbine in two minds just outside six-yard box and he sent his header over the bar.
Trinidad showed they weren't in Jamaica to play dead in the 13th minute with an off-side goal off a free kick.
Jamaica's defence failed to take heed and paid the price at the end, denying Simoes victory in two games since taking charge of the Boyz following last month's 1-1 draw with Costa Rica.
Jamaica's Tyrone Marshall (right) scores the team's second goal against Trinidad and Tobago goalie Jan Michael Williams at the National Stadium last night. Looking on is Trinidad defender Keon Daniel. The game ended 2-2. - Ian Allen
Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
Jamaica's Luton Shelton (centre) can't believe his luck after missing a goal against Trinidad and Tobago during a friendly match last night at the National Stadium. At right, Trinidad goalie Jan Michael Williams gestures while Keyeno Thomas looks on. - Ian Allen
TRINIDAD and TOBAGO last night snatched a 2-2 draw at the death from the Reggae Boyz when Aurtis Whitley booted a long-range shot, from 25 yards out, past substitute goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr.
The Soca Warriors benefited from sloppy defending on the Boyz's part to rally from two goals down in the first-half after a classy strike from Marlon King and a clean finish by the overlapping veteran, Tyrone Marshall, put Jamaica 2-0 up after 40 minutes.
Jamaica, ranked 10 places lower than Trinidad, who are 93rd on FIFA's latest list, went in cruising on a 2-0 lead at half-time but fell apart in the second half after King and starting goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts, were substituted at the restart.
Trinidad, who always looked dangerous, especially on set-plays in the first half, got a breather after the injured Omar Daley, who bothered them all night with his pace down the right flank, was substituted in the 67th minute.
Breached backline
The Soca Warriors started pressing Jamaica inside their half and substitute Osei Telesford breached the Boyz backline on the right side of goal in the 75th minute, firing his shot past an onrushing Kerr.
Deon Burton, the 1998 Road to France hero, who got a surprise recall from Brazilian coach Rene Simoes, should have made it safe for the Boyz before Telesford scored in the 69th minute but dragged his shot wide of the far post from inside the box.
Jamaica were made to pay in the dying moments when an unmarked Whitley spotted Kerr just off his line and hit a shot, which went well to the right of the Portmore United goalkeeper, earning a draw for the Trinidadians, whose small number of supporters broke out into song and celebration.
Jamaica's supporters were left high and dry after the Boyz first-half display.
King, the Wigan striker, showed a touch of class from just outside the area in the 34th minute, serving his marker a deadly dummy, with his back turned to goal, before turning to place his shot on a penny inside goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams' far post.
The Reggae Boyz roared ahead 2-0 in the 40th minute when Marshall, who had a goal disallowed for off-side four minutes earlier, collected a long diagonal pass on the right flank from Demar Phillips and dribbled into the box to blast past Williams.
The Boyz missed at least two good chances before leading.
In the fourth minute, Daley broke down the right flank but the Trinidadian goalie was off his line quickly to deny him.
A minute later, Luton Shelton sent his header, from goalmouth, over the bar off a cross from Daley.
In the eighth, another Daley cross caught young Obrian Woodbine in two minds just outside six-yard box and he sent his header over the bar.
Trinidad showed they weren't in Jamaica to play dead in the 13th minute with an off-side goal off a free kick.
Jamaica's defence failed to take heed and paid the price at the end, denying Simoes victory in two games since taking charge of the Boyz following last month's 1-1 draw with Costa Rica.
Jamaica's Tyrone Marshall (right) scores the team's second goal against Trinidad and Tobago goalie Jan Michael Williams at the National Stadium last night. Looking on is Trinidad defender Keon Daniel. The game ended 2-2. - Ian Allen
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