Boyz stumble - JamaicaObserver.com

Saturday, November 07, 2009 3:25 PM

Sport

Boyz stumble

J'ca go down to Canada in Gold Cup opener

IAN BURNETT, @ THE CONCACAF GOLD CUP

Saturday, July 04, 2009

LOS ANGELES, USA - It was certainly not the start that Jamaica's Reggae Boyz were looking for.

Canada's Julian de Guzman (left), and Dejan Jakovic (right) battle for the ball with Jamaica's Ricardo Fuller during their CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California yesterday. (Photo: AP)

But after dominating Canada in their opening game of the 2009 edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament here at the Home Depot Centre last night, Jamaica went down 0-1 to their north American rival on a 75th-minute goal from Ali Gerba, thus leaving themselves a mountain to climb if they are to get back into contention for a place in the quarter-finals.

This tournament was always going to be a real test for head coach Theodore Whitmore, and some of his substitutions yesterday will be questioned as it appeared strange how captain Ricardo Gardner, who hadn't played a game in a few months, was allowed 90 minutes on the pitch, while Jermaine Johnson, undoubtedly Jamaica's best player on the pitch, was pulled after 76 minutes, and Rodolph Austin, the 'engine' of the team, was also hauled off.

It was no wonder Jamaica could not muster a serious threat after conceding the goal.

After a cagey start by both teams, Fuller sparked the game into life when he blasted a left-footed shot high and wide of the goal after Jamaica had put together a decent build-up which saw the ball moving nicely between a number of players - Gardner, Demar Phillips and Johnson.

Shortly after, Gardner was the recipient of a neat pass on the edge of the opponents' penalty box, but the skipper's weak, side-footed effort was easily smothered by a grateful Greg Sutton in goal.

Jamaica's Jermaine Johnson (left) and Canada's Michael Klukowski battle for the ball during their CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California yesterday. Canada won 1-0. (Photo: AP)

Jamaica got even closer shortly afterwards when Johnson, who was a menace to the Canadians, eased his way past a hapless defender and drove a left-footer which scraped Sutton's right hand post, with the goalkeeper well and truly beaten.

At the other end, goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts had to be alert to tip a Kevin McKenna's flick on over the goal frame.

Immediately upon the resumption, substitute Josh Simpson was afforded the luxury of time and space centre of the Jamaican penalty area, but Ricketts, who knows the Home Depot Center very well, being the home ground of his MLS outfit LA Galaxy, brought off a brilliant save, palming the ball over the top.

The Reggae Boyz looked to have the measure of their North American rivals and just before the hour mark Damion Stewart drove a fierce right-footer on goal, but Sutton was equal to the task, blocking the shot after Shelton had twisted and turned his marker inside the crowded penalty area.

Another chance went abegging for Jamaica shortly afterwards when Sutton threw an errant pass straight to Shelton midway the half, but the striker spared the goalkeeper's blushes by hurrying his shot, which was easily accepted by the retreating Sutton.

Jamaica were in relative control of the game and just after the hour mark a corner kick by Gardner was skipped by Johnson and Austin drove a screamer on goal, but the ball was deflected for a corner.

Immediately after, the best chance of the game was presented to Fuller. The Stoke City front man, who appeared short of his best form throughout, clearly upset by the amateurish officiating of American referee Terry Vaughn, was played in on goal and with only Sutton to beat, but the striker lingered for far too long and the goalkeeper gleefully accepted the shot.

That must have been the signal for the Canadians that it would have been their day as on 75 minutes, out of nothing the Maple Leaf boys were in front. A deep diagonal pass from the left was volleyed home at the far post by Gerba, and from then on Jamaica seemed to have lacked the bite to come back.

But now they will have to find teeth from somewhere if they hope to bounce back into contention. The team is scheduled to travel via chartered flight to Columbus, Ohio today, where they will be in action on Tuesday at the Crew Stadium. Jamaica will oppose Costa Rica at 6:00 pm (Jamaica time) followed by El Salvador against Canada two hours later.

Canada................1
Gerba (75th)
Jamaica.................0

Teams: Jamaica - Donovan Ricketts, Damion Stewart, Tyrone Marshall, Claude Davis (Omar Cummings 81st), Demar Phillips, Jermaine Johnson (Jamal Campbell-Ryce 76th), Rodolph Austin (Oneil Thompson 71st), Jason Morrison, Ricardo Gardner, Ricardo Fuller, Luton Shelton.
Subs not used: Dwayne Miller, Eric Vernon, Rafe Wolfe, Nicholas Addlery, Dane Richards.
Booked: Davis (24th), Johnson (28th), Shelton (44th), Phillips (70th), Thompson (89th).

Canada - Greg Sutton, Michael Klukowski, Kevin McKenna, Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Marcel De Jong (Josh Simpson 46th), Ali Gerba, William Johnson (Simeon Jackson 70th), Atiba Hutchinson, Dejan Jakovic, Patrice Bernier.
Subs not used: Adrian Cann, Richard Hastings, Issey Nakajima-Farran, Josh Simpson, Simeon
Booked: de Guzman (36th).
Jackson, Jaime Peters, Joshua Wagenaar.
Referee: Terry Waughn (USA)
Assistant Referees: Charles Morgante (USA), Modesto Hierrozuelo (Cuba)
Fourth Official: Jair Marruto (USA)
Match Commissioner: Richard Groden
Referee Inspector: Lisle Austin

If you were to grade Derick Latibeaudiere's performance over his 13 years as Bank of Jamaica governor, what grade would he get?
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