Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaica's Marlon King (left) looks to control the ball ahead of Canada's Andre Hainault in World Cup qualifying action at the National Stadium last night. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
TOO LITTLE, too late. Despite scoring a courageous 3-0 victory over Canada in their Group Two semi-final round match at 'The Office' last night, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz were eliminated from CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualifying on goal difference.
Luton Shelton (28th), Marlon King (56th penalty) and Omar Cummings (85th) scored for Jamaica. Canada's Charles Gbeke had a goal disallowed in time added to the second half.
Victory in front of a sell-out crowd of nearly 40,000 pushed Jamaica to 10 points, the same as Mexico, who claimed second in the group after their 1-0 loss in San Pedro Sula to hosts Honduras, who topped the group with 12 points.
Only two qualify and with goal difference the tie-breaker Mexico, who scored nine and conceded six times, came out better at +3, while Jamaica cancelled itself out to zero after scoring six and conceding as much. All Jamaica's goals were conceded in the first round under Brazilian Rene Simoes, as he ignored the country's top talent for untried youngsters. Theodore Whitmore took over when the Brazilian was fired and led the team on a three-match winning streak.
Standing ovation
The spectators gave the Boyz a standing ovation, clapping as the referee sounded his final whistle. But the glum look on their faces told the story, along with the heads of the Boyz which drooped on the field.
In a hard-running encounter, Jamaica showed their attacking intentions from the opening whistle with captain Ricardo Gardner forcing the team forward with a dribble through midfield. Marlon King, one of three forwards employed in an attacking formation, was picked out with a pass wide of goal and centred, but the heavily guarded Canadian defence cleared its lines.
Thereafter, despite having a fair deal of possession, the homesters found it difficult to get the ball to their front men. Jamaica were not patient enough and many passes aimed through the centre of the park at Shelton, King and Ricardo Fuller were picked off.
Canada kept Jamaica honest by attacking whenever they got the opportunity, with Gbeke and Kevin Harmse running hard and creating some nervous moments for the fans. Ironically, it was this freedom that led to their downfall on Jamaica's first goal at the 20th minute, when they were caught out on a swift counter play.
Picking up a ball headed away from defence, Jamal Campbell-Ryce walked around an opponent then laid off to Demar Phillips, who broke swiftly at the centre of the defence, initiating commitment from the Canadian defenders before splitting them with a pass to the speedy Shelton. The striker rounded 'keeper Lars Hirschfield, then scored with a pass into the empty goal.
The concession seemed to fire up Canada, who went close to scoring twice within six minutes when Gbeke, with a firm header from six yards, and Harmse, with a dipping volley from 20 yards, made excellent tries, only to be denied by magnificent saves from Jamaica custodian, Donovan Ricketts.
The homesters re-established control and almost had a second goal five minutes from the interval when a cracking free kick from 40 yards by midfielder Rodolph Austin smashed on to the underside of the crossbar but, unfortunately for the Jamaicans, rebounded on the other side of the goal line.
Action was fast and furious in the second half with Canada boldly and purposefully withstanding the challenge to stave off embarrassment.
Lonely battle
For their part, the Reggae Boyz never aided their cause much as the rest of the team practically stood back from the final third, leaving the three-man frontline to fight a lonely battle.
Too often they were outnumbered and just could not beat the defence of Canada, which continued to frustrate Jamaica until Phillips provided a lively burst and took a one-two pass off King inside the penalty area, where he was felled by a late challenge.
El Salvador referee Joel Antonio Chicas signalled to the penalty spot, from which King coolly converted at the 56th minute to double Jamaica's lead.
The limited Jamaicans in attack continued to run into a wall on offence as Canada pressed deep and continued to challenge for every ball. Coach Theodore Whitmore added pace from his bench with changes from the 70th minutes onwards. They got life, and another goal, when defender Ian Goodison pushed forward and cut back a ball for Omar Cummings to slide home from goalmouth for a 3-0 scoreline.
