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Daunting task for Reggae Boyz
published: Friday | February 23, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody j4lQv="true">
Costa Rica's Jonathan McDonald (left) fights for the ball with Jamaica's Montrose Phinn during Wednesday night's match. </DIV>
JAMAICA'S UNDER-20 Reggae Boyz have their backs pressed firmly against the wall tonight when they face Mexico in the team's second game of the 2007 CONCACAF Under-20 tournament at the Banorte Stadium in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
The Boyz got off to a rough start to their Youth World Cup qualification bid on Wednesday night when they were turned back 2-0 by Costa Rica.
The Costa Ricans took charge in the fourth minute through a Celso Borges' penalty and Jean Carlos Solorzano put things away for the Ticos in the 90th minute.
However, that late strike came only after Jamaica, who had several bouts of healthy possession during the game, failed to put away an opportunity which could have seen them pull level from the penalty spot.
In four-team Group B, another loss for theJamaicans would spell certain death to their hopes as the Costa Ricans and hot favourites Mexico have already secured early wins.
Driver's seat
The hosts are very much in the driver's seat as they secured an important three points with a 2-0 win over St. Kitts and Nevis in Wednesday's late game.
St. Kitts and Nevis fell behind to a Cesar Villaluz 27th minute strike and Giovanni Dos Santos put the seal on Mexico's performance four minutes from time and ensure his side full points.
The top two teams in Group B will join Panama and the United States in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada from June 30-July 12.
The Reggae Boyz booked their spot in the final round after eliminating Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 on aggregate in a play-off series in December.
The team will hope to emulate the success of the 2001 Reggae Boyz team who made history when they qualified for the Youth World Cup in Argentina.
Tonight, St. Kitts and Nevis will clash with Costa Rica in the opening game, while Jamaica meet Mexico in the second match at 9:00 p.m. (Jamaica time).
published: Friday | February 23, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody j4lQv="true">
Costa Rica's Jonathan McDonald (left) fights for the ball with Jamaica's Montrose Phinn during Wednesday night's match. </DIV>JAMAICA'S UNDER-20 Reggae Boyz have their backs pressed firmly against the wall tonight when they face Mexico in the team's second game of the 2007 CONCACAF Under-20 tournament at the Banorte Stadium in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
The Boyz got off to a rough start to their Youth World Cup qualification bid on Wednesday night when they were turned back 2-0 by Costa Rica.
The Costa Ricans took charge in the fourth minute through a Celso Borges' penalty and Jean Carlos Solorzano put things away for the Ticos in the 90th minute.
However, that late strike came only after Jamaica, who had several bouts of healthy possession during the game, failed to put away an opportunity which could have seen them pull level from the penalty spot.
In four-team Group B, another loss for theJamaicans would spell certain death to their hopes as the Costa Ricans and hot favourites Mexico have already secured early wins.
Driver's seat
The hosts are very much in the driver's seat as they secured an important three points with a 2-0 win over St. Kitts and Nevis in Wednesday's late game.
St. Kitts and Nevis fell behind to a Cesar Villaluz 27th minute strike and Giovanni Dos Santos put the seal on Mexico's performance four minutes from time and ensure his side full points.
The top two teams in Group B will join Panama and the United States in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada from June 30-July 12.
The Reggae Boyz booked their spot in the final round after eliminating Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 on aggregate in a play-off series in December.
The team will hope to emulate the success of the 2001 Reggae Boyz team who made history when they qualified for the Youth World Cup in Argentina.
Tonight, St. Kitts and Nevis will clash with Costa Rica in the opening game, while Jamaica meet Mexico in the second match at 9:00 p.m. (Jamaica time).
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Jamaica's Montrose Phinn (right) battles Costa Rica's Jonathan McDonald during their opening CONCACAF Group B Under-20 qualifying match in Mexico on Wednesday night. Costa Rica won 2-0.</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>JAMAICA'S Under-20 team faces a sterner test at the Banorte Stadium when they play host Mexico in the feature match here at 7:00 pm (9:00 pm local time) in the Group B CONCACAF qualifiers.<P class=StoryText align=justify>In the other game, Costa Rica meet St Kitts & Nevis at 4:00. 
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description></SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>DR Dean Weatherly, head coach of the national Under-20 team, said the low concentration level of the players cost them the opening CONCACAF Group B qualifying match against Costa Rica in Mexico on Wednesday night.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"In the first 15 minutes of the first half and last 15 minutes of the second half, mentally there was a breakdown and we can't go into tournaments like this and lose our concentration from so early," said Weatherly.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The Jamaicans were beaten 2-0 here in the curtain-raiser of a double-header after conceding goals in the fourth minute and time-added in either half, while England-based striker Joel Grant missed a penalty in the 13th minute of the match.
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