U-17s fortified for second US friendly

P Reid

Sunday, January 30, 2011

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MONTEGO BAY, St James — The Jamaica coaching staff will hope the addition of three overseas players for the second friendly international against the United States Under-17s at Jarrett Park at 6:00 pm will boost the home team.

Quante Smith and Shawn Lawson — both based in Canada — as well as Kaya Beckford, who is a resident of the Valencia Academy in Spain, will join the team which played to a 0-0 draw against the Americans last Thursday.

Esteban Rodriques (left) of the USA turns away from Jamaica’s Melvin Blair during their Under-17 friendly international match at Jarrett Park last Thursday. The game ended 0-0. (Photo: Paul Reid)
[Hide Description] Esteban Rodriques (left) of the USA turns away from Jamaica’s Melvin Blair during their Under-17 friendly international match at Jarrett Park last Thursday. The game ended 0-0. (Photo: Paul Reid)
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The trio will join UK-based Patrick Hadden — who came on as a second-half substitute in the first game — as the foreign-based players for the game.

Meanwhile, Jamaican head coach Wendell Downswell bemoaned the team's poor offensive showing in their last game when they created a mere handful of chances

Both teams are using the two-game series as preparation for next month's CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup Qualifiers which will see four countries advancing to the FIFA Finals to be staged in Mexico later this year.

After Thursday's stalemate where they had time to feel each other out, the teams are expected to be more offensive and are expected to make changes to the teams that started in the first game.

Hadden, who added some speed to the Jamaica attack when he replaced Romario Williams early in the second half, could force his way into the starting team where he is expected to partner Jason Wright in attack.

Esteban Rodriquez was also a bright spark in the USA's attack and could also get the nod from coach Wilmer Cabrera.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/U-17s-fortified-for-second-US-friendly_8323525#ixzz1CWk7OgpQ