Scrappy Boyz! Minnows hold Ja 0-0 in W'Cup qualifier
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
IAN BURNETT with the REGGAE BOYZ in Antigua
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
ST JOHN'S, Antigua — In a lack lustre performance, Jamaica could only eke out a point in a 0-0 stalemate against a spirited, if not talented Antigua and Barbuda aggregation here at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds last night.
The point moved Jamaica to four in Group A of the semi-final phase of the CONCACAF World Cup play-offs, one ahead of the USA, who were slated to face Guatemala away in a late kick off.
Antigua and Barbuda, who were making the semi-final phase of the competition for the first time, improved to one point, with the Central Americans pointless.
When the fixtures were announced by FIFA, head coach Theodore Whitmore and his technical staff would have been looking to take maximum points away from the tiny eastern Caribbean outfit, clearly the weakest on paper, and yesterday's loss of two points could prove critical for the Reggae Boyz qualification bid for the final round which will be contested between February and October next year.
The Antiguans were the first to have a close look at Dwayne Miller's face when Lawson Robinson received a throw in behind the Jamaican defence, which was caught out, but Miller was alert off his line to smother the feeble effort from just inside the penalty area.
The Boyz responded immediately with Lovell Palmer relaying a floated pass down the right channel for the speedy Dane Richards, who held up play well before turning the ball back for Rodolph Austin to centre. However, Ryan Johnson's firm headed contact was easily saved by a well-placed Morvin James at his near post.
At the other end, Peter Byers, who got the goal against the USA last Friday, just failed to bundle home a left-sided corner, after the all-yellowclad Antigua and Barbuda players capitalised on their superior height advantage from a deep cross.
Demar Phillips, the man who opened the scoring for Jamaica against Guatemala last Friday, worked his way into a shooting position near the break, but James got down quick enough at his near post to palm away for a corner.
And moments later, Johnson was on target once again with a header from a looping cross from Palmer, but James was there to save the day for the Eastern Caribbean side.
The ambitious Antiguans threatened again upon the resumption, forcing Phillips to scramble a grounded cross dangerously over his goal for a corner.
At the other end, Richards got the best chance of the game to put the green jersey, black shorts and green shocking-clad Boyz ahead, only to muff the chance by booting the ball high over the crossbar with only goalkeeper James to beat.
Je-Vaughn Watson, who was ineffective in the first half, cut inside his markers from the left before playing a neat pass to Johnson, who teed-up the New York Red Bull inside the area. He should have done much better.
The physically strong Antiguans always posed a threat at the other end from set pieces and on one occasion, Randolph Burton narrowly missed making contact with Tamorley Thomas’s left-sided cross deep into the Jamaican penalty box.
Then just after the hour mark, Shelton, the captain on the night, struck the right upright after Watson had again done well to weave his way into a dangerous area before rolling a cross on the penalty spot for Shelton to strike left-footed.
From the rebound which fell under Johnson’s feet, he couldn’t get the ball out quickly enough to turn into an unguarded net.
At the end, the result is probably what the Boyz deserved, as they never displayed the tenacity, urgency and hunger of a team which was desperate for three points in the land of the great West Indian cricketer and national hero, Sir Vivian Richards.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...ifier_11686291
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1xfv1Gmmc
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
IAN BURNETT with the REGGAE BOYZ in Antigua
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
ST JOHN'S, Antigua — In a lack lustre performance, Jamaica could only eke out a point in a 0-0 stalemate against a spirited, if not talented Antigua and Barbuda aggregation here at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds last night.
The point moved Jamaica to four in Group A of the semi-final phase of the CONCACAF World Cup play-offs, one ahead of the USA, who were slated to face Guatemala away in a late kick off.
Antigua and Barbuda, who were making the semi-final phase of the competition for the first time, improved to one point, with the Central Americans pointless.
When the fixtures were announced by FIFA, head coach Theodore Whitmore and his technical staff would have been looking to take maximum points away from the tiny eastern Caribbean outfit, clearly the weakest on paper, and yesterday's loss of two points could prove critical for the Reggae Boyz qualification bid for the final round which will be contested between February and October next year.
The Antiguans were the first to have a close look at Dwayne Miller's face when Lawson Robinson received a throw in behind the Jamaican defence, which was caught out, but Miller was alert off his line to smother the feeble effort from just inside the penalty area.
The Boyz responded immediately with Lovell Palmer relaying a floated pass down the right channel for the speedy Dane Richards, who held up play well before turning the ball back for Rodolph Austin to centre. However, Ryan Johnson's firm headed contact was easily saved by a well-placed Morvin James at his near post.
At the other end, Peter Byers, who got the goal against the USA last Friday, just failed to bundle home a left-sided corner, after the all-yellowclad Antigua and Barbuda players capitalised on their superior height advantage from a deep cross.
Demar Phillips, the man who opened the scoring for Jamaica against Guatemala last Friday, worked his way into a shooting position near the break, but James got down quick enough at his near post to palm away for a corner.
And moments later, Johnson was on target once again with a header from a looping cross from Palmer, but James was there to save the day for the Eastern Caribbean side.
The ambitious Antiguans threatened again upon the resumption, forcing Phillips to scramble a grounded cross dangerously over his goal for a corner.
At the other end, Richards got the best chance of the game to put the green jersey, black shorts and green shocking-clad Boyz ahead, only to muff the chance by booting the ball high over the crossbar with only goalkeeper James to beat.
Je-Vaughn Watson, who was ineffective in the first half, cut inside his markers from the left before playing a neat pass to Johnson, who teed-up the New York Red Bull inside the area. He should have done much better.
The physically strong Antiguans always posed a threat at the other end from set pieces and on one occasion, Randolph Burton narrowly missed making contact with Tamorley Thomas’s left-sided cross deep into the Jamaican penalty box.
Then just after the hour mark, Shelton, the captain on the night, struck the right upright after Watson had again done well to weave his way into a dangerous area before rolling a cross on the penalty spot for Shelton to strike left-footed.
From the rebound which fell under Johnson’s feet, he couldn’t get the ball out quickly enough to turn into an unguarded net.
At the end, the result is probably what the Boyz deserved, as they never displayed the tenacity, urgency and hunger of a team which was desperate for three points in the land of the great West Indian cricketer and national hero, Sir Vivian Richards.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...ifier_11686291
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1xfv1Gmmc
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