El Salvador v Jamaica-Exciting draw

[Dunny]

Exciting draw!
Boyz hold El Salvador 0-0 in impressive show
SEAN Williams With the Reggae Boyz in Washington
Sunday, May 31, 2009
WASHINGTON DC, USA - They had to produce a better performance than their last time out and they did.
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, in front of a partisan El Salvador crowd at the RFK Stadium, conjured up a fine display in their friendly international game to finish 0-0.
On the back of a far from aesthetic performance against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale a week ago, coach John Barnes' Boyz lifted their game and surprised many.
WASHINGTON, USA - Jamaica's Jermaine Johnson (centre) dribbles past El Salvador's Julio Martinez (left) and Victor Turcios during their friendly international match yesterday. The game ended 0-0. (Photo: AP)
The team of mostly local-based lads put on a display that redeemed them and could make the job of selecting a final squad for the July 3-26 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA a difficult one.
Jermaine Johnson of Sheffield Wednesday was undoubtedly the man of the moment, scheming and
controlling the flow of the attack.
Before an estimated 50,000 fans, El Salavador left disappointed by their inability to enforce a win entering their CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match against Mexico in San Salvador on Saturday.
For the first 10 minutes the teams enjoyed good possessional spells but neither was able to breach the other's defence.
In the 16th minute, however, El Salvador got behind the Jamaican defence with a lofted ball from deep in their half, but Julio Martinez, under pressure from Rafe Wolfe, watched his shot balloon over Dawyne Miller's goal.
And in the 19th minute, Johnson's teasing free kick into the El Salvador box could not find a friendly head.
Johnson mellowed as the game grew older and in the 23rd minute his delightful pass to Nicholas Addlery looked promising, but the Puerto Rico Islanders striker slipped on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Johnson, who missed Jamaica's 2-2 draw against Haiti a week ago because of a red card against Nigeria in London in February, was again at his imperious best in the 28th minute by slithering past two defenders, but his pin-point pass right-side to Navion Boyd was mishandled and the latter forced to play the ball back.
Controlling the flow and tempo of the Jamaican attack, Johnson just two minutes later sailed by two defenders, but his well-struck grounder could not find its way to goal.
Only four minutes had elapsed before Johnson had his eye on goal once more with a rasping volley that marginally missed the frame.
Addlery, who scored on his debut for Jamaica against Haiti, had his first telling effort in minute 38, but his well-guided header from a Rafe Wolfe's left-sided cross was palmed behind by Miguel Montes.
The Boyz were on the prowl again in the 45th minute when Roland Dean turned provider by showing the path to goal to Tivoli teammate Boyd, but the final shot rolled wide of target.
On the resumption, the Boyz returned very composed and fuelled frustration in the El Salvador ranks which was evident in their demeanour.
A minute after the break, Jamaica sniffed at goal with Dean attempting to surprise the goalie with a lobbed effort which was too weighted and went over the crossbar.
El Salvador got a whiff of goal in the 51st when Jason Morrison was dispossessed and substitute Eliseo Quintanilla looked set to test Dawyne Miller, but Damion Stewart came to the rescue with a suspect tackle in the box, which referee Mark Kadlecik ignored.
And in the 56th minute, Dean found himself in a good position for a shot but had to watch his grounder take a deflection from 20 yards for a corner.
In the 78th minute El Salvador came close to snatching victory when substitute Rodolfo Zelaya crept unmarked in the Jamaica goal area with a glancing header that flew just wide of Miller's goal.
Teams:
Jamaica - Dwayne Miller, Damion Stewart, Adrian Reid, Rafe Wolfe, Eric Vernon (Oraine Simpson 76th), Jason
Morrison, Richard Edwards, Navion Boyd (Wolry Wolfe 76th), Jermaine Johnson, Nicholas Addlery (Devon Hodges 68th), Roland Dean (Kemmar Daley 80th).
Subs not used: Shawn Sawyers, Dicoy Williams, Andre Campbell, Michael Campbell, Booked: Edwards (21st), R
Wolfe (78th), Morrison (90th)
El Salvador - Miguel Montes, Manuel Salazar, Victor Turcios, Alexandre Escobar, Reynaldo, Hernandez (Deris Umanzor 87th), Julio Martinez, Denis Alas (Rodolfo Zelaya 76th), Oscar Jiminez (Eliseo Quintanilla 45th), Carlos Monteagudo (Salvador Coreas 45th), William Torres (Osael Romero 61st),Williams Reyes (Rudis Corrales 76th).
Subs not used: Benji Villalobos, Marvin Gonzalez, Luis Hernandez, Mardoqueo Henriquez, Lester Blanco.
Booked: None
Referee: Mark Kadlecik
Assistant Referees: George Gansner, Greg Barkey
Fourth Official: Andrew Chapin.

[Hortical]

30,313 see Jamaica tie El Salvador

El Salvador, Jamaica Play to a Tie in Friendly
El Salvador 0, Jamaica 0
By Paul Tenorio
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 31, 2009


Playing an international friendly in a stadium that has become its home away from home, El Salvador played to a scoreless tie with Jamaica last night at RFK Stadium in its final tuneup before resuming World Cup qualifying next week.
In front of a larger-than-expected crowd of 30,313 fans, the two teams drew even in a match that featured quality opportunities for each side but no goals.
Jamaica's best chance came on a header by former D.C. United forward Nicholas Addlery in the 39th minute, while El Salvador nearly stole the win on a superb cross that was headed wide of the far post by Rodolfo Zelaya in the 77th minute, then again on a free kick taken away from the upper corner by a diving goalkeeper in the 80th.
While neither team would end up on top in the game, there was no doubt which team held the home-field advantage.
The Jamaicans were greeted with boos as they walked onto the field more than an hour prior to the game.
By the start, much of the stadium was filled, and the yellow-clad Jamaica fans were only a smattering among the sea of El Salvador supporters.
"[I] feel very happy to see these people here and a lot of people from El Salvador come to support us," said former D.C. United midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla, who entered at halftime.
The first half gave little for the majority to cheer about, however.
The only promising attack from El Salvador came in the 16th minute when Julio Martínez found space on the right side and looked to chip a shot past Jamaica goalkeeper Dwayne Miller, but he put too much on the attempt and sent it over the top.
Otherwise, the Reggae Boyz went into the half feeling as though they could have been on top.
A strong volley in the 35th minute missed just wide right. And in the 39th minute Addlery, who plays for the second-division Puerto Rico Islanders, nearly gave Jamaica the lead when his flicked-on header seemed destined for the far post only to be smacked away by goalkeeper Miguel Montes.
El Salvador threatened in the 50th minute when Quintanilla broke through the Jamaican defense and appeared to be shoved while in the box, but he went over too easily and the referee signaled to play on.
The final 15 minutes were frantic as the Salvadorans pushed more vigorously than they had all game and were nearly rewarded three times.
El Salvador will now refocus on World Cup qualifying and hosts Mexico on June 6.
"We're happy to have everybody play better and we know we're going to have a hard game against Mexico," Quintanilla said. "And we're going to try to win that game, and that game is very important for us. We have to get the three points."