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A couple of Jamaica's key players, hard-working central midfielder Rodolph Austin, and striker Luton Shelton, are looking to lift their performances as the Reggae Boyz seek an important win against Costa Rica in their CONCACAF Gold Cup match at the Columbus Crew Stadium this evening.
"As a team, we have a big task ahead of us tomorrow against Costa Rica," said Austin.
Austin noted that the Ticos - who head CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with 12 points - are "very good", and it would take an exceptional performance from his team to win.
"We saw them play Friday night and they are very good," he said. "But we have good players. We just have to go out there with our 11 players, and every one of the players has to give 110 per cent, and by doing that, I know we can overcome them and come out with a victory."
Austin was pulled out of Jamaica's opening game in the second half after complaining of his hamstring and cramps.
"It feels better now. I was feeling it when I played the last game for my club, then I travelled and I think that's why I was feeling it in the game and it was giving me problems," he admitted, after training immediately upon arrival in Los Angeles after a long flight from Norway, then going straight into battle the following day.
"But now, I'm 100 per cent and I'm ready to go out there and give my all for the team," he said. "Personally, I think I can do better because I don't think I had a very good game on Friday."
Shelton said his team must be positive.
"We lost the first game and we're going out there to play as positive as we can to get the three points. Costa Rica is a team that can move the ball very well. We have to do as we trained and try to be aggressive and work hard."
The striker added: "We're going in with a positive frame of mind and to try to get the goals early so that we can get three points for the game."
Commenting on his combination with Ricardo Fuller on the frontline, Shelton said they had a discussion and would seek improvements.
"The last game, we weren't combining as such. We talked about it and it's something we want to improve on going into the next game, because it's good if you have two strikers working together as partners."
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"As a team, we have a big task ahead of us tomorrow against Costa Rica," said Austin.
Austin noted that the Ticos - who head CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with 12 points - are "very good", and it would take an exceptional performance from his team to win.
"We saw them play Friday night and they are very good," he said. "But we have good players. We just have to go out there with our 11 players, and every one of the players has to give 110 per cent, and by doing that, I know we can overcome them and come out with a victory."
Austin was pulled out of Jamaica's opening game in the second half after complaining of his hamstring and cramps.
"It feels better now. I was feeling it when I played the last game for my club, then I travelled and I think that's why I was feeling it in the game and it was giving me problems," he admitted, after training immediately upon arrival in Los Angeles after a long flight from Norway, then going straight into battle the following day.
"But now, I'm 100 per cent and I'm ready to go out there and give my all for the team," he said. "Personally, I think I can do better because I don't think I had a very good game on Friday."
Shelton said his team must be positive.
"We lost the first game and we're going out there to play as positive as we can to get the three points. Costa Rica is a team that can move the ball very well. We have to do as we trained and try to be aggressive and work hard."
The striker added: "We're going in with a positive frame of mind and to try to get the goals early so that we can get three points for the game."
Commenting on his combination with Ricardo Fuller on the frontline, Shelton said they had a discussion and would seek improvements.
"The last game, we weren't combining as such. We talked about it and it's something we want to improve on going into the next game, because it's good if you have two strikers working together as partners."
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...s/sports4.html
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