Jamaica’s Under-17s pull Houdini Act

Reported By Mark Dunn ~PREMIDICTOR

04th May, 2007

Jamaica’s Under-17s created history at the National Stadium on Friday, becoming the first team from the country to beat the United States in a football match and gave themselves a good chance of qualifying for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

Jamaica’s victory, a 3-2 result, came from the boots of Dever Orgill, Akeem Brown and John Ross Doyley, while the United States had goals from Sheanon Williams and Alexander Nimo.

What was impressive about the victory was the fact that, one; it meant Jamaica can still qualify, after Trinidad and Tobago had earlier beat Canada to make sure they gave themselves a chance, and two; the young Reggae Boyz had to come from 2-nil down.

As a matter of fact, the way it stands at this point Jamaica are now favourites to make it to the World Cup. Canada have ended their games on four points, while the United States and Costa Rica have already qualified with six and seven points respectively. Costa Rica and the United States still have a game remaining against each other.

Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have three points and await a game against each other. With that being the situation any of them that comes away with a victory will go on to the World Cup.

Trinidad and Tobago can afford a draw because that will mean they will join Jamaica and Canada on four points. If that happens Trinidad and Tobago, who beat Canada 2-1 will qualify for the World Cup based on head to head confrontations.

This is the current situation, but at the start of the game between Jamaica and the United States, the former would never have dreamed they would be staring qualification in the face ninety minutes later.

The game began the way everyone expected. Despite Trinidad’s earlier victory, which left the gate open for Jamaica, The United States were the dominant team and Jamaica looked as if they were about to throw their chance away.

Jamaica’s starting striker Christopher Waugh was having a terrible day and couldn’t control or pass a ball if his life depended on it, while the team’s captain and his strike partner Dever Orgill, who hasn’t had a good final qualification round wasn’t enjoying himself either. Then the service to them was terrible, as Kabari Palmer and Doyley could not really make a big impact.

They did take some good long range shots in the first half, but as it was against Costa Rica, Jamaica’s possession never looked like producing a goal.

Then the United States, who weren’t having a sparkling game either found ways to score.

In the 15^th minute of play, their right back, Williams beat the offside trap and with Jamaica’s left-back, Christopher Banner, who likes to attack down the flanks, well beaten from the through ball danger was on the horizon.

Looking inside, Williams never saw a cross because his team was slow to join him in attack but the right-back also saw Jamaica’s goalkeeper Oneil Wilson slightly off his line and from fully 35 yards he drove a shot with the outside of his right boot that swerved and dipped dramatically after beating the ‘keeper.

When the ball lodged in the far corner of Jamaica’s goal the hopes of the small crowd on hand dwindled dramatically.

What was interesting was the fact that Jamaica never dropped their heads and continued to play as if the game was nil-all and they still had a chance, but even they looked a little dejected at half time because the score was then 2-nil.

The second goal came down the same right channel for the United States despite David hunt’s decision to pull Banner and replace him with Noel Mais.

That wasn’t a straight swap either because Hunt then put Mais at right back and brought Kenniel Hyde over to the left-back position.

It was there that the United States still chose to attack, and when their right midfielder, Nimo, turned up with the ball unmarked, onside and inside the 18-yard box Jamaica was in trouble. His low hard drive to the far post was again telling and Jamaica were now down and everybody assumed - out.

The second half produced much of the same from Jamaica. The team was fighting hard but making bad decisions with their passing and their shooting. They gave away possession all too easily but to their credit fought to regain it with much verve.

This maintained until the 78^th minute, when Hunt brought on the burly midfielder Akeem Brown.

Brown then started making some intelligent looking passes, nothing exotic, but noticeably more effective than his teammates previous efforts.

On one of those occasions he showed his intent when he turned up in the box with a ball at his feet and a defender in his way. Pulling the ball across the defender and putting the ball on his left foot he struck low and hard. The ball took a slight deflection on its way into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, sending the Jamaican fans into euphoria about finally scoring a goal in the final round.

That goal came in the 78^th minute and while people were happy that Jamaica had scored the strike seemed like more of a consolation than anything else. This is of course before an amazing 10 minute spell where the Jamaicans led by Brown and the inclusion of Andre Steele for the injured Waugh laid waist to the supposed dominance of the United States for the previous 80 minutes.

The second goal, which signalled he possibility of qualification came when Brown, once again, showing a good sense of the situation played a lovely give and go with fellow substitute Mais down Jamaica’s right side.

The result was, for the firs time in the game, Jamaica had gotten behind the United States’ back line and the cross fell on the head of Steele, who knocked it down for Orgill to sweep the ball home and send the Jamaican fans into a state of elation.

While there was still time in the game for another goal there was the sense that the United States would not be beaten and a few attacks from the visitors seemed to confirm that.

However, the youngsters, because it must be remembered that these players are under-17 and even more likely to succumb under the pressure of tough situations, rushed their chances and Jamaica easily handled the attacks the United States mustered at that late stage.

Then the impossible occurred, from 2 goals down and 12 minutes remaining Jamaica scored what would eventually turn out to be the winner.

Again, Brown picking up a pass from Mais on the right side, turned inside and swept a lovely looking through ball to Hyde on the left side, and the wing back, unaccustomed to playing on the left, swung his boot into the cross.

The cross clearly wasn’t intended to be hit as low as it was but the pace of it outfoxed the United States’ markers and a hand ball occurred.

The resulting penalty was driven home quite expertly by Doyley, who, until that point, hadn’t shown much by the way of composure. His penalty though, nestled in the top left hand corner of Joshua Lambo’s goal after being struck with real authority and confidence.

Thus it was off to the post match press conference, where Hunt told the media that it wasn’t over yet and that patrons should come out in their numbers to support the team, which now had a real chance of qualifying for the World Cup.

United States’ coach John Hackworth, while disappointed with the result, having led 2-nothing, said the Jamaicans played creditably and that they have some fantastic players.

His team having qualified already though, he says, still intend to try to top the group and in so doing would have to pull off something special to bounce back against Costa Rica, who have shown their class by amassing seven points up to this point.