Tweet
Peru nudge Boyz
SEAN WILLIAMS WITH THE REGGAE BOYZ in Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — Under a dreary South Florida night sky which promised rain and thunderstorms, the Reggae Boyz were outscored, but by no means outclassed, by Peru in a friendly international at Lockhart Stadium here last night.
For their 2-1 victory, La Rojiblanca (The White and Red Ones) of Peru were helped when Demar Phillips turned the ball in his own net in the third minute.
Jamaica rallied in fine style when Colorado Rapids' Omar Cummings scored a giant of a goal in the 20th minute, but the Peruvians put their nose out for the marginal win when substitute Jose Carlos Fernandez killed the game in the 83rd with his first touch.
The result breaks a promising victory roll for the Boyz, who have registered back-to-back wins against Trinidad and Tobago (3-1) last month and Costa Rica (1-0) on Sunday at 'The Office'.
If any consolation, Jamaica started the contest on a positive note with an attractive brand of football of neat passes, marked by excellent use of the width of the field.
But they fell behind in the contest by misadventure when Aalesund's Phillips came back with his best intentions to help out in defence, but inadvertently headed the ball past his own goalkeeper as he tried to clear Juan Manuel Vargas' lofted ball into the area with two hungry teammates in Hernan Rencifo and Jefferson Farfan lurking in the danger area.
That early setback was not part of coach Theodore Whitmore's plans, who said before the game that "our approach for this game has to be one of caution... and for the first 10 or 15 minutes it's very important that we do so".
Things were not going to plan.
But the Reggae Boyz did not lose heart; instead, they kept their focus and resumed the business of getting goals. And they got one in the 20th minute — and oh, what a beauty it was!
After foiling a Peru offensive plot in midfield, Norway-based Jason Morrison intelligently sprayed the ball wide right side and picked out the fleet-footed Eric Vernan who, like clockwork, laid the ball nicely for Colorado Rapids' Cummings. The on-fire striker then obliged his teammates with a vicious 25-yard blast that had the opposing goalkeeper Salomon Libman soundly beaten.
Just before the spectacular equalising goal by Cummings, who got a double for his club at the weekend, the heavens opened up — a sign of blessings to come, perhaps.
The goal, like it should, spurred the Boyz and they soared — stretching the South Americans with their passing game and constructive use of the flanks.
On the resumption, Peru had a great chance to take the lead again when Walter Vilchez's defence-splitting pass found Vargas, who used his superior frame to effortlessly shake off the defensive challenge of the diminutive Vernan before shooting low and wide with his favourite left foot.
In the 60th minute, Peru, ranked 39th by FIFA, threatened yet again. This time, Jesus Rabanal was the mastermind with a clever ball to Rencifo, whose firm header from six yards miraculously missed the frame.
With a lull in Jamaican goalmouth threat, that kind of action appeared more concentrated at the other end. In minute 74, Peru, in a breakaway move, almost snatched the lead, but Kansas City Wizards defender Shavar Thomas got a timely boot in to deny the dangerous Farfan.
But the pressure by the South Americans finally paid off when late substitute Fernandez scored with a gentle touch to break Jamaican hearts.
But if they needed it, there was no effective 12th man for the Reggae Boyz on the night as only a spatter of Jamaica fans was in attendance and were lost in a sea of white and red of vociferous Peruvian support as there was an estimated 5,217 at the 18,000-capacity venue.
During the half-time break, Peru legend Teófilo Cubillas, now 61 years old, was honoured when the Peruvian Football Federation made a special presentation to him in centre field.
Jamaica, ranked 82nd by FIFA, will now turn their attention to arch rivals and 76th-ranked Trinidad and Tobago in a Kingston showdown next month. The Boyz whipped the Soca Warriors 3-1 in the first of a two-game series in Port of Spain last month.
The Boyz are coming off a 1-0 win over CONCACAF rivals Costa Rica at 'The Office' on Sunday, while Peru were comfortable 2-0 victors over another CONCACAF stalwart, Canada, in Toronto a day earlier.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...e-Boyz_7943500
SEAN WILLIAMS WITH THE REGGAE BOYZ in Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — Under a dreary South Florida night sky which promised rain and thunderstorms, the Reggae Boyz were outscored, but by no means outclassed, by Peru in a friendly international at Lockhart Stadium here last night.
For their 2-1 victory, La Rojiblanca (The White and Red Ones) of Peru were helped when Demar Phillips turned the ball in his own net in the third minute.
Jamaica rallied in fine style when Colorado Rapids' Omar Cummings scored a giant of a goal in the 20th minute, but the Peruvians put their nose out for the marginal win when substitute Jose Carlos Fernandez killed the game in the 83rd with his first touch.
The result breaks a promising victory roll for the Boyz, who have registered back-to-back wins against Trinidad and Tobago (3-1) last month and Costa Rica (1-0) on Sunday at 'The Office'.
If any consolation, Jamaica started the contest on a positive note with an attractive brand of football of neat passes, marked by excellent use of the width of the field.
But they fell behind in the contest by misadventure when Aalesund's Phillips came back with his best intentions to help out in defence, but inadvertently headed the ball past his own goalkeeper as he tried to clear Juan Manuel Vargas' lofted ball into the area with two hungry teammates in Hernan Rencifo and Jefferson Farfan lurking in the danger area.
That early setback was not part of coach Theodore Whitmore's plans, who said before the game that "our approach for this game has to be one of caution... and for the first 10 or 15 minutes it's very important that we do so".
Things were not going to plan.
But the Reggae Boyz did not lose heart; instead, they kept their focus and resumed the business of getting goals. And they got one in the 20th minute — and oh, what a beauty it was!
After foiling a Peru offensive plot in midfield, Norway-based Jason Morrison intelligently sprayed the ball wide right side and picked out the fleet-footed Eric Vernan who, like clockwork, laid the ball nicely for Colorado Rapids' Cummings. The on-fire striker then obliged his teammates with a vicious 25-yard blast that had the opposing goalkeeper Salomon Libman soundly beaten.
Just before the spectacular equalising goal by Cummings, who got a double for his club at the weekend, the heavens opened up — a sign of blessings to come, perhaps.
The goal, like it should, spurred the Boyz and they soared — stretching the South Americans with their passing game and constructive use of the flanks.
On the resumption, Peru had a great chance to take the lead again when Walter Vilchez's defence-splitting pass found Vargas, who used his superior frame to effortlessly shake off the defensive challenge of the diminutive Vernan before shooting low and wide with his favourite left foot.
In the 60th minute, Peru, ranked 39th by FIFA, threatened yet again. This time, Jesus Rabanal was the mastermind with a clever ball to Rencifo, whose firm header from six yards miraculously missed the frame.
With a lull in Jamaican goalmouth threat, that kind of action appeared more concentrated at the other end. In minute 74, Peru, in a breakaway move, almost snatched the lead, but Kansas City Wizards defender Shavar Thomas got a timely boot in to deny the dangerous Farfan.
But the pressure by the South Americans finally paid off when late substitute Fernandez scored with a gentle touch to break Jamaican hearts.
But if they needed it, there was no effective 12th man for the Reggae Boyz on the night as only a spatter of Jamaica fans was in attendance and were lost in a sea of white and red of vociferous Peruvian support as there was an estimated 5,217 at the 18,000-capacity venue.
During the half-time break, Peru legend Teófilo Cubillas, now 61 years old, was honoured when the Peruvian Football Federation made a special presentation to him in centre field.
Jamaica, ranked 82nd by FIFA, will now turn their attention to arch rivals and 76th-ranked Trinidad and Tobago in a Kingston showdown next month. The Boyz whipped the Soca Warriors 3-1 in the first of a two-game series in Port of Spain last month.
The Boyz are coming off a 1-0 win over CONCACAF rivals Costa Rica at 'The Office' on Sunday, while Peru were comfortable 2-0 victors over another CONCACAF stalwart, Canada, in Toronto a day earlier.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...e-Boyz_7943500
Comment