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Jamaica Rush Past El Salvador 3-nil PREMIDICTOR 07/10/2007
A stupendous goal by Rudolph Austin in the 33rd minute, kick-started Jamaica’s buildup to their World Cup Qualifiers next year en route to a convincing 3-0 win over El Salvador at the National Stadium last night. Austin, who plays for Portmore United struck a thunderous shot from some 40 metres, which rattled the back of the net in a hurry as the stadium went into a frenzy. It was a goal of the highest class from a player who was scoring his first goal for the senior Jamaican team and what a goal it was. Austin scored a number of those powerhouses for his club team Portmore and he took it to another level.
Captain Ricardo Gardner playing in an advance role right behind the strikers scored twice in the 38th and 83rd minutes as the new Capt Horace Burrell era got off to a winning start. A telling dribble by Sheffield United’s striker Luton Shelton, bounced favourably for Gardner to fire home in the 38th minutes from 10 metres. Gardner, the former Bolton Wanderers captain, notched his second and Jamaica’s third goal with seven minutes remaining.
The 3-0 margin of victory could have been greater but for some wayward finishing from the Reggae Boyz. As early as the second minute Ricardo Fuller slipped his marker but his shot from a difficult angle sailed across the face of the goal begging for a touch from someone. In a dominating performance the Boyz took control from the outset and never looked back, Fuller, Luton Shelton, Gardner, Jamal Campbell-Ryce Demar Phillips, Rudolph Austin, Oneil Thompson, looked lively and was a constant threat to the El Salvadorian defence.
The Reggae Boyz dominance was such that it took El Salvador 22 minutes to make an attempt on the Jamaican goal via a free kick some 25 metres out. The half ended 2-0 but the expected goal feast never materalised in the second half and it took Jamaica another 45 minutes before Gardner sidefooted home from just outside the box, making the scoreline more reflective of Jamaica’s dominance. The young El Salvadorian was no match for Jamaica and will have to really improve if they are going to make an impact during next year’s World cup Qualifiers. Nevertheless it was exactly what new Jamaica Football Federation president Capt Horace Burrell wanted to kick start his new era as Jamaica prepared for their World Cup Qualifying campaign next year. The Reggae Boyz will entertain Guatemala on Wednesday at 7:00pm.
Jamaica:01-Richard McCullum (Dwayne Kerr 74th), 03-Damion Stewart (Demar Stewart 66th), 24-Rudolph Austin, 15-Ricardo Gardner, 08-Jamal Campbell-Rice (Jermaine Johnson 66th), 06-Demar Phillips, 20-Oneil Thompson, (18-Khari Stephenson 79th) , 04-Shavar Thomas, 14-Tyrone Marshall, 21-Luton Shelton, 10-Ricardo Fuller (Dane Richards 74th) Subs not used: 11-Wolry Wolfe, 25-Ricardo Geddes, 22-Damion Williams, 07-Sean Fraser, 23-Rafe Wolfe, 09-Christopher Jackson Cautions: Campbell-Ryce (49th)
El Salvador: 22-Miguel Moreno, 02-Luis Campos, 18-Alexander Rosales, 16-Manuel Rivas, 15-Alfredo Pacheco, 06-Shawn Hendriquez, 08-William Castillo (17-Dennis Romero 44th ) , 14-Ramon Sanchez, 10-Eliseo Ortiz, 11-Ronald Flores (c), 12-Franciso Rivera (5-Jose Mendoza 64th , 21-William Maldonado 79th) , Subs not used: 01-Henry Cruz, 04-Jonathon Alvarado, , 20-Mark Pineda, 07-Jose Manzaners Cautions: Franciso
Rivera (35th), Eliseo Ortiz (45th), Alfredo Pacheco (Ejected 56th)
Referee: Alfredo Whittaker (Cayman Islands), 1st, Ricardo Morgan (Jamaica), 2nd Rohan Thorbourne (Jamaica), fourth Official: Karl Tyrell (Jamaica). Match Commissary: Horace Lewis
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