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Bigger fish to fry! - Jamaica look ahead to WC semis
NODLEY WRIGHT, Freelance Writer
Reggae Boy Luton Shelton scored his second hat-trick in international competition. - file
The Reggae Boyz yesterday formalised their advancement to the semi-final round of the CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualifiers as they strolled to a 6-0 whipping of the overmatched Bahamas in the first ever World Cup qualifying match to be played at the new multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny.
As it was in the opening encounter, Shefield United striker Luton Shelton was the primary scorer as he followed up Sunday's brace with a triple, yesterday. He struck in the 35th, 37th, 42nd minutes. Deon Burton, who partnered him in place of Marlon King, had a double in the 30th and 56th minutes while Tyrone Marshall recorded the other in the 40th.
Jamaica will now take on tougher opposition, Mexico, Honduras and Canada whom they open the next stage against on August 20 away. Only the top two teams will advance to the final group of six from which three teams will secure automatic qualifying places for the showpiece event in South Africa.
The scoreline was hardly a true reflection of the game as it appeared to be less intense than a training session. Jamaica, were allowed to dictate the play unbothered while the visitors appeared deflated from the first leg's 7-0 hammering and could have just been going through the motions.
NODLEY WRIGHT, Freelance Writer
Reggae Boy Luton Shelton scored his second hat-trick in international competition. - file
The Reggae Boyz yesterday formalised their advancement to the semi-final round of the CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualifiers as they strolled to a 6-0 whipping of the overmatched Bahamas in the first ever World Cup qualifying match to be played at the new multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny.
As it was in the opening encounter, Shefield United striker Luton Shelton was the primary scorer as he followed up Sunday's brace with a triple, yesterday. He struck in the 35th, 37th, 42nd minutes. Deon Burton, who partnered him in place of Marlon King, had a double in the 30th and 56th minutes while Tyrone Marshall recorded the other in the 40th.
Jamaica will now take on tougher opposition, Mexico, Honduras and Canada whom they open the next stage against on August 20 away. Only the top two teams will advance to the final group of six from which three teams will secure automatic qualifying places for the showpiece event in South Africa.
The scoreline was hardly a true reflection of the game as it appeared to be less intense than a training session. Jamaica, were allowed to dictate the play unbothered while the visitors appeared deflated from the first leg's 7-0 hammering and could have just been going through the motions.
Fooled around
With little or no challenge coming from the Bahamians the locals fooled around and took close to half an hour to look structured and purposeful even with their opponents looking clueless and out of their depth, but for goalkeeper Dwayne Whylly.
With little or no challenge coming from the Bahamians the locals fooled around and took close to half an hour to look structured and purposeful even with their opponents looking clueless and out of their depth, but for goalkeeper Dwayne Whylly.
Jamaica finally got their act together around the 25-minute mark with Burton converting clinically, after missing a few minutes earlier. He benefited from the good work of his teammates Evan Taylor, Shelton, Marshall and Andy Williams who made the final pass.
That goal appeared to have whetted their appetites as soon after Shelton found his groove and registered a quick hat-trick, his second in national colours.
For his first he collected a nice pass from Austin rounded the 'keeper and slotted home before converting a penalty which resulted from the defence chopping down Gardener in the 18-yard box.
Fine strike
Marshall turned in one before Shelton completed his hat-trick with a fine strike to send the Reggae Boyz into the half-time break with a 5-0 lead and the spectators hoping for the floodgates to remain open in the second half.
That was not to be as only Burton added another in the second half, when he turned substitute O'Brian Woodbine's low cross into the goal. The other two substitutes, Omar Daley and Richard Langley, failed to lift the level of Jamaica's play as they, in general, seemed to roam freely and Ian Goodison, in particular, abandoned his defensive role and went in search of a goal that would not come.
With the breakdown of the team discipline, The Bahamas improved marginally as they went forward more often with greater success and even managed to threaten goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts' goal as the otherwise solid Jermaine Taylor made a poor defensive header which had Ricketts scrambling to preserve a clean sheet. Taylor was forced into action a few more times, but those were only false alarms.
With the breakdown of the team discipline, The Bahamas improved marginally as they went forward more often with greater success and even managed to threaten goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts' goal as the otherwise solid Jermaine Taylor made a poor defensive header which had Ricketts scrambling to preserve a clean sheet. Taylor was forced into action a few more times, but those were only false alarms.