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Columbus, USA – The Reggae Boyz will field two changes to their starting team when they meet Costa Rica this evening in their second game of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament at the Crew Stadium.
Game time is 7:00pm (6:00pm Jamaica time).
Following their 0-1 loss to Canada in the opening game, head coach Theodore Whitmore made it clear that while the team was not at its sharpest defensively, more than enough chances were created for the team to have won the game.
“Football is a game sometimes it is not who deserves it, but who takes it and that is what the Canadians did the other night. We just have to put that behind us and move forward into the Costa Rica game, which everyone is looking forward to,” Whitmore said.
Both teams are pointless in the four-team Group A and vying for one of two automatic spots to advance to the quarter-finals. El Salvador and Canada who meet in the second game of the double header sit more comfortably on three points each.
“We have to stay focused, we know what we have to do, we know our backs are against the wall, the Costa Ricans are going to be tough, both of us lost our opening games, so we know our team is capable of scoring goals, we missed some easy chances in the last game, and it is up to us to capitalize on those chances, even the half chances,” Whitmore added ahead of today’s game.
To give the team a better chance of capitalizing on the chances, two additional attacking players have been drafted into the final eleven. Puerto Rico Islanders striker Nicholas Addlery, who scored on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Haiti earns a starting place. Omar Cummings, who has been in outstanding form for his club Colorado Rapids, has also squeezed himself into the final 11. Both players have looked sharp in the finishing drills ahead of today’s game.
The introduction of these two players will see a slight rearrangement of the formation from the first game. Addlery will come in for Shelton and operate as a central striker with support from Ricardo Fuller and Cummings who will replace central midfielder Jason Morrison. The deeper lying Ricardo Gardner, Rodolph Austin, Jermaine Johnson and Demar Phillips will also provide support.
Defensively, the trio of Tyrone Marshall, Claude Davis and Damion Stewart will remain the spine while the outstanding Donovan Ricketts will retain his place in goal.
The Reggae Boyz will have more options defensively as Shavar Thomas will join the group in Miami, Florida on Wednesday.
Jamaica’s starting XI: –1- Donovan Ricketts; 14-Tyrone Marshall, 4- Claude Davis, -3- Damion Stewart, 16- Jermaine Johnson, 12- Demar Phillips, 17 - Rodolph Austin, 15- Ricardo Gardner, 22 – Omar Cummings, 10 - Ricardo Fuller and 19 – Nicholas Addlery.
Subs: Dwayne Miller, Rafe Wolfe, Dane Richards, Jason Morrison, Oneil Thompson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Luton Shelton
Game time is 7:00pm (6:00pm Jamaica time).
Following their 0-1 loss to Canada in the opening game, head coach Theodore Whitmore made it clear that while the team was not at its sharpest defensively, more than enough chances were created for the team to have won the game.
“Football is a game sometimes it is not who deserves it, but who takes it and that is what the Canadians did the other night. We just have to put that behind us and move forward into the Costa Rica game, which everyone is looking forward to,” Whitmore said.
Both teams are pointless in the four-team Group A and vying for one of two automatic spots to advance to the quarter-finals. El Salvador and Canada who meet in the second game of the double header sit more comfortably on three points each.
“We have to stay focused, we know what we have to do, we know our backs are against the wall, the Costa Ricans are going to be tough, both of us lost our opening games, so we know our team is capable of scoring goals, we missed some easy chances in the last game, and it is up to us to capitalize on those chances, even the half chances,” Whitmore added ahead of today’s game.
To give the team a better chance of capitalizing on the chances, two additional attacking players have been drafted into the final eleven. Puerto Rico Islanders striker Nicholas Addlery, who scored on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Haiti earns a starting place. Omar Cummings, who has been in outstanding form for his club Colorado Rapids, has also squeezed himself into the final 11. Both players have looked sharp in the finishing drills ahead of today’s game.
The introduction of these two players will see a slight rearrangement of the formation from the first game. Addlery will come in for Shelton and operate as a central striker with support from Ricardo Fuller and Cummings who will replace central midfielder Jason Morrison. The deeper lying Ricardo Gardner, Rodolph Austin, Jermaine Johnson and Demar Phillips will also provide support.
Defensively, the trio of Tyrone Marshall, Claude Davis and Damion Stewart will remain the spine while the outstanding Donovan Ricketts will retain his place in goal.
The Reggae Boyz will have more options defensively as Shavar Thomas will join the group in Miami, Florida on Wednesday.
Jamaica’s starting XI: –1- Donovan Ricketts; 14-Tyrone Marshall, 4- Claude Davis, -3- Damion Stewart, 16- Jermaine Johnson, 12- Demar Phillips, 17 - Rodolph Austin, 15- Ricardo Gardner, 22 – Omar Cummings, 10 - Ricardo Fuller and 19 – Nicholas Addlery.
Subs: Dwayne Miller, Rafe Wolfe, Dane Richards, Jason Morrison, Oneil Thompson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Luton Shelton
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