Bahamas captain Happy Hall (right) makes a desperate attempt to stop marauding Jamaican striker Luton Shelton during their CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium yesterday. Shelton scored three goals in the Reggae Boyz's 6-0 romp. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Florence Hall, Trelawny - Luton Shelton registered a first-half hat-trick in eight minutes to lead Jamaica to a comfortable 6-0 victory over the Bahamas in their return-leg CONCACAF second-round World Cup qualifying match at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium yesterday.

Added to Sunday's 7-0 thumping in the first leg, Jamaica advanced to the semi-final phase of the qualifying series with a 13-0 aggregate margin. The Reggae Boyz join Honduras in that phase and will await Mexico and Canada, who hold 2-0 and 3-0 advantages over Belize and St Vincent & the Grenadines, respectively.

Along with Shelton (35th, 37th and 43rd), Deon Burton (30th and 56th) notched a brace, while Tyrone Marshall (40th) got the other goal.

Played as the first international football match at the venue built for the Opening Ceremony for last year's ICC Cricket World Cup, there was a fair-sized crowd on hand, but apart from the goals, they would have left the Stadium wanting more from their beloved Reggae Boyz.

Veteran Reggae Boy striker Deon Burton (right) beats Daron Beneby of the Bahamas to a header during their CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium yesterday. Burton scored two goals in his team's 6-0 win. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

As was the case in the first match, the visitors, who were in fact the home team, showed very little as an attacking threat and it was for the Reggae Boyz to impose their dominance.

However, despite getting behind their opponents' defence line on numerous occasions, the Boyz could not support those plays with accurate crosses or finishes and had to wait until the half-hour mark to open their account.
This they did with probably one of their best moves of the game.

Evan Taylor in midfield played a pass down the right flank to Shelton, who was running out of space, but he cheekily back-heeled to Marshall, who centred for Andy Williams to employ a neat back flick for Burton to strike home firmly.

The floodgates were opened and the Boyz added to the tally when Shelton was set free on the edge of the penalty area by an unmarked Rudolph Austin. Shelton rounded the keeper before poking home, and barely two minutes later skipper Gardner was brought down inside the penalty box after being played through, and Shelton tucked away the spot kick.

Appalling defending inside the box accounted for Jamaica's fourth goal. Andy Williams was picked out unmarked inside the penalty box from a Gardner right-sided corner and his relay pass found Marshall, who slotted home.

Shelton, who could have scored at least four goals on Sunday, completed his hat-trick when he beat the off-side trap and powered home to take the team 5-0 up in at the break.

The second half was marked by indisciplined play and a number of missed chances. But among all that, Burton made it six when he side-footed home from substitute O'Brian Woodbine's left-sided cross.

It appeared as if a double-digit scoreline was in the offing, but Burton, Phillips and Shelton were wasteful in front of goal, as the team's play deteriorated.

Teams:
Jamaica - Donovan Ricketts, Ian Goodison, Jermaine Taylor, Ricardo Gardner (O'Brian Woodbine 46th), Tyrone Marshall, Evan Taylor (Richard Langley 46th), Rudolph Austin, Andy Williams (Omar Daley 59th), Demar Phillips, Deon Burton, Luton Shelton.
Subs not used: Shawn Sawyers, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Simon Ford, Marlon King.
Booked: None

Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico)
Assistant Referees: Salvador Rodriques, Hector Delgadillo (Mexico)
Fourth Official: Refael Morales (Mexico)
Match Commissary: Norris Ferguson (Trinidad & Tobago)
Referee Assessor: Amilcar Burgos (Honduras)

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