Gold Cup here we come!
March 31, 2003

INJURY-HIT Jamaica rebounded emphatically to book their place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals when they blanked Haiti 3-0 in front of an appreciative crowd of 5,000 spectators at the National Stadium last night.

Goals by Bolton Wanderer's midfielder, Jermaine Johnson, Omar Daley and an own goal killed off the Haitians in a fine display by the local lads.

It's Jamaica's first trip to the Gold Cup since their humiliating experience in 1999, when they went goalless in three defeats.

Last night's result ensured Jamaica topped the four-team group with seven points, followed by Martinique with four and St Lucia and Haiti on three each.

The Jamaicans, left with only four fit substitutes at the start of last night's game, were further depleted with injuries to midfielder, Theodore Whitmore, and central defenders, Claude Davis and Ian Goodison.

The spate of injuries meant the technical staff wase unable last night to finalise the squad, which departs today for a friendly international against Venezuela in Caracas on Wednesday.

Technical director, Carl Brown, was overjoyed with the Boyz qualification: "It was impressive. I believe they did what they had to do ... we were very aggressive, we didn't allow the Haitians to do any sort of ball play and we got a victory here ... that I think was well deserved," he beamed.

"The players came out and showed the character they displayed in the last 10 minutes of that Martinique game. They stepped up when it was necessary and it only goes to show that the players who you see put on the Jamaican colours truly want to do well for this nation," Brown added.

The Reggae Boyz were quickly out the blocks and within the first 10 minutes it appeared evident they would have won, as they took total control of the game, mounting numerous, raids on the opposition's goal.

Johnson blasted high from close range after Andy Williams had forced goalkeeper, Fenelon Gabart, to parry in the second minute.

Four minutes later and striker, Roen Nelson, had an effort blocked by the busy Gabart, but from the resulting corner, Ian Goodison's goal bound header was expertly saved by the Haitian goalkeeper yet again.

There were still more fireworks from the Jamaicans before the crowd had settled into their seats as Goodison was inches away from redirecting a Williams freekick into the goal.

Williams had another glorious attempt well saved by Gabart on the second attempt, when the burly striker turned his marker and unleashed a torrid left footer.

Gold Cup (contd.)
March 31, 2003

Johnson, who squandered an opportunity earlier on, made amends on the quarter hour when he mesmerised two defenders on his way into the penalty area before rifling home a right-footer.

Brown had high praises for the Bolton Wanderer's player. "His extra pace ... is always going to present problems for slow players and this is one of the things we need to start to do, look at our players out there. He was confident with the ball and that was good."

Haiti briefly took control of the midfield without really threatening Ricketts' goal, as the well-organised defensive unit, marshalled by veteran Goodison and Davis, kept them at bay.

Thirteen minutes into the second half Daley made the game safe when he notched his fourth goal in as many games -- and his third of the tournament -- with a well-taken right-footer after Johnson had done good work on the right side to pull the ball back from the byline.

Eight minutes later the visitors conceded their third goal after Johnson and Nelson combined to tear their defence to shreds. However, Johnson struck the ball against the body of the advancing Gabart and the ball rebounded off a retreating defender and into the unprotected goal.

Jamaica's midfielder, Cornel Chinsue (right) makes a telling dribble towards goal while a St Lucian defender tries to stop him, during their CONCACAF' Gold Cup qualifier at the National Stadium last night. Jamaica won the game 5-0.

 Johnson should have added another inside the last 20 minutes, but he was brought down by Gabart outside the area. However, to the bemusement of the entire stadium, Trinidadian referee, Neal Brizan, again exposed his ignorance of the laws of the game when he brandished a yellow card instead of the automatic red.

Haiti's defender, Josue Mayard, was distraught when he spoke to reporters. "What can I say, we were beaten by a much better team," he said.

More Boyz for PNE? 
March 23, 2003

INJURED Preston North End striker, Reggae Boy, Ricardo Fuller, has indicated that club boss, Craig Brown, could be interested in at least one other Reggae Boy, Omar Daley.

Fuller, who sustained serious damage to cruciate ligaments in an English first division game last December and has been ruled out for the rest of the season, made the revelation while responding to Preston fans in the website's Q&A section.

In response to a fan's question as to whether Fuller had recommended any Jamaican players to Brown for him to consider signing, the man who netted 11 goals prior to his injury said: "I think Preston have been targeting another Jamaican player whom I think is a midfielder or a left back.

"There are some good players coming up in Jamaica now and some good players have been there who never really get the opportunity to show themselves and show what they can do.

Maybe if they had that opportunity at a higher level then maybe they wouldn't perform in the same way or maybe even better, you never know ..."

Fuller then identified Daley as the player Brown could be interested in, in response to another fan's question about any "young Jamaicans that are up-and-coming rising stars that no one over here has heard of? If so how old and what position they play?

Said Fuller in response: "There is a left back, Robert Scarlett, he is my best mate in the national team. We were the first young players to be in the senior team, we were playing Under-20 and we got drafted to play in the national team. We have spent most of our time in hotel rooms when we travel. He is quite a good player, a great left footer as well.

"Then you have a midfielder, Omar Daley, who is quite good. He has been on trial at Everton. He played quite well but I guess that his work permit failed so they couldn't sign him. He is quite a good midfielder and I believe the one that Craig Brown is looking at."

The 23 year-old international striker, who underwent surgery in the United States in January, revealed that his recovery was "going quite fine ...".

Said Fuller; "It takes time. I know that and I know that it is going to be very difficult. I am just trying to stick to the task. It is going to be quite a while and maybe next season."

Depleted Jamaica off 
to Venezuela 
April 01, 2003

NINE local-based players, who did not take part in the just concluded Gold Cup qualifying tournament at the National Stadium, have been included in Jamaica's squad for their international clash against Venezuela in that nation's capital tomorrow.

The squad, which departed the island yesterday for Caracas, is without nine players, who either picked up injuries during the tournament or have returned to their overseas clubs .

Only one overseas-based player, central defender Shavar Thomas of MLS side, Dallas Burns, is in the 18-man squad.

Goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers, defenders Robert Scarlett (returning from injury), Damion Stewart and Oneil Dunn, midfielders Fabian Dawkins, Damion Williams and Jermaine Hue, as well as forwards Christopher Nicholas and Nicholas McCreath, all have a chance to make their mark in Caracas after missing the second phase of Gold Cup qualifiers.

Missing from the Jamaican line-up because of injury are Theodore Whitmore and Ian Goodison, Fabian Taylor and goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts.

Wingback Craig Zadie, midfielders Andrew Williams and Jermaine Johnson and forwards Kevin Lisbie and Deon Burton, are the internationals who have returned to their overseas clubs.

Central defender, Claude Davis, was passed fit and travelled with the squad yesterday despite limping off in Sunday night's 3-0 win over Haiti.

Squad: Aaron Lawrence, Shawn Sawyers, Omar Daley, Cornel Chin-Sue, Linval Dixon, Gerald Neil, Jonathan Williams, Roen Nelson, Hue, Davis, Thomas, Scarlett, Dawkins, Damion Williams, Stewart, McCreath, Dunn, Nicholas.

Boyz Swamp St. Lucia 5-0
March 27, 2003

Jamaica's midfielder, Andy Williams (right), celebrates his 10th minute goal against St Lucia with team-mates Fabian Taylor (left) and Kevin Lisbie. Jamaica won the match 5-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

JAMAICA'S football resurgence continued at the National Stadium last night when the Reggae Boyz swamped St Lucia, 5-0, in a CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying game.

Midfielder, Andy Williams got the ball a-rolling in the 10th minute to give the hosts the early lead.

Fabian Taylor (11th) and Cornel Chinsue (38th) also got onto the score-sheet in the first period to give the 1998 World Cup finalists a 3-0 half-time cushion. It was Chinsue's first international goal.

Jamaica continued their dominance on the resumption, with Hazard defender, Claude Davis, netting in the 56th minute and talented young Bolton Wanderers midfielder, Omar Daley, finding the target in the 62nd.

The losers missed a grand opportunity to pull one back from the penalty spot in the 48th minute after a dubious call for handled ball from Trinidadian referee, Brizan Neal. However, Sheldon Emmanuel kicked wide off goalkeeper, Ricketts' righthand post.

The final few minutes saw total domination by coach Carl Brown's charges, who appeared satisfied with the results and ended the game by casually passing the ball around.

The Reggae Boyz will next play Martinique in the feature match of another double header at the same venue tomorrow, starting at 7:00pm. Haiti tackle St Lucia in the curtain-raiser at 5:00.

Lowe  Hits Double
April 06, 2003

LONDON (CMC) -- Jamaican striker, Onandi Lowe, pumped in two goals and lifted Rushden & Diamonds to a 2-1 victory over Bristol Rovers in the English third division yesterday.

Lowe netted in each half -- and pushed his season's tally to 15 goals -- to sink relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers, as second-placed Rushden & Diamonds closed in on leaders, Hartlepool.

Bermuda's Kyle Lightbourne also scored and Jamaican, Micah Hyde, was also on target in an 11-goal Watford/Burnley division one match.

At The Memorial Stadium, Rushden & Diamonds rallied from a third minute goal by Vitalijs Astafjevs with Lowe's important strikes for his visiting side.

The big Jamaican forward equalised in the 37th minute, heading in a Stuart Wardley pass from close range.

Lowe then hit the winner in the 68th minute, latching onto a pass from his Jamaica international team-mate, Paul Hall, before converting an easy goal from close range.

Lowe and Hall are joint leading league scorers for Rushden & Diamonds with 15 goals each, and Lowe has now scored six goals in four games against Rovers.

Archives

Available from the Main Page

SoccerTV.com
All football telecast listings for US & Europe

MLSnet.com
 US Major League Soccer site.

Slam! Soccer
Soccer365.com