Jamaica on the verge of elimination

Reported By Mark Dunn ~PREMIDICTOR

02nd May, 2007

Jamaica’s Under-17s, despite an improved performance, now have their backs against the wall after ushering Costa Rica to the World Cup in a 1-nil loss to them on Monday.

The qualifying game, played at the National Stadium, saw Jamaica enjoying most of the possession, knowing that a win or a draw was needed to give them a realistic chance of qualifying for the World Cup for a second time.

That wasn’t to be, and today the chance is mathematical at best. While Jamaica enjoyed possession, again they had technical flaws that ensured they never gave themselves a fair chance.

At the end of the first half for instance, I had been saying the team was in trouble because they had nothing to show for their possession and Costa Rica were enjoying some incisive attacks whenever they countered the Jamaicans. Jamaica on the other hand, never seemed to be able to deal with the pace, strength and skill of the front two from Costa Rica, who time and time again broke free but for some reason never managed to score.

Jamaica, when they had the ball, slowly worked their way into the final third, only to thwart themselves by not shooting, shooting at the wrong time, or overpassing. In general, bad decisions made sure they would not get unto the scoresheet.

In fact, the difference between the teams in the final third was so clear that even with Costa Rica’s limited possession, Jamaica’s coach David Hunt was left counting his lucky stars when Jorge Castro beat the last two defenders but failed to beat the goalkeeper 15 minutes into the half.

Jamaica’s clearest chance, outside of some good shots from distance from John Ross Doyley in that first half, came to McKauly Tulloch, but his decision to try to control a well weighted through ball that had sat up nicely for him proved to be the wrong one with the pressure from the chasing defender forcing a bad touch that ended the move in harmless fashion.

The same problems prevailed in the second half and after 9 minutes of it, Miguel Brenes sounded his intent after he turned his marker and was through on goal but shot poorly.

Jamaica did respond well as Dever Orgill made an enterprising dribble but his shot, hit ferociously, screamed over the bar.

Costa Rica waited patiently and continued playing with six and seven players behind the ball all the time, waiting for Jamaica to over-commit and hit them on the counter.

In the 69^th minute their plan worked to a tee, when Jamaica, not for the first time, were caught in possession and the bustling Castro, played a lovely give and go with Esteban Luna that split the Reggae Boyz’ back line wide open.

Luna finished the move, a one on one with Jamaican goalkeeper Oneil Watson in fine style.

The game petered out after that as the Jamaicans lost what little shape they had in an attempt to grab an equaliser and give themselves a fighting chance in their last two games. The better organised Costa Rica never fell for the attempts and Jamaica were outplayed in the latter part of the game.

As a matter of fact, Costa Rica were the recipients of a few more one on one opportunities after that which they failed to take advantage of.

The result means quite simply, that Jamaica have played two games, have a minus four goal difference and no points.

With two games remaining and three teams to make the final the Reggae Boyz still have a slim chance of getting to the World Cup. If they can win those games against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago they could still get through.

Six points is only good enough, though, if Canada do not win their final game against Trinidad and Tobago this evening. Trinidad hasn’t shown much up until this point and are expected to lose and give Canada the seven points they need to qualify.

However, Trinidad, with two games remaining can still qualify as well and so will have it all to play for and you never know how games like that could turn out.

Jamaica on the other hand, has to play against the United States, a team they have not beaten at any level of competition previously. Fortunately for Hunt, he has broken that kind of jinx before. If you remember this Jamaica team beat Mexico in a practice match for the first time in the country’s history, lets hope that breaking jinxes is a habit of his and of this team’s.