Lazaroni
Arrives
July 25
The new head coach of the Reggae Boyz, Brazilian
Sebastiao Lazaroni, arrived in Jamaica on Saturday
along with his three assistants, Nielsen Elias
(goalkeeper coach), Joao-Carlos Costa (assistant
coach) and Marcio Meisa (physical trainer). Jamaica
Football Federation's president Crenston Boxhill,
technical director Carl Brown and Burchell Gibson,
the JFF general secretary, were also on hand.
Lazaroni previously coached the Jamaican national
team for less than three months in 2000 when he
inherited the team from fellow countryman Rene
Simoes. After a series of poor performances, Lazaroni
questioned the commitment of the overseas players
and the JFF saying that they frustrated his efforts
and caused him to quit the team. Lazaroni, along
with technical director Carl Brown and JFF president
Crenston Boxhill, travelled to Panama last week
on a two-day scouting and business mission where
they watched Panama play to a 1-1 draw with nieghbours
Guatemala in a friendly international. Upon his
arrival at the airport, Lazaroni told the media
that his vision was simply to get Jamaica to the
2006 World Cup in Germany saying that "I
have had a break and now and if God blesses us,
together we can try to do our best to be at another
World Cup. It's not easy but we will try".
Lazaroni and his team will get a look at some
of the Boyz on Sunday when they tackle a Clarendon
Invitational team at Jamalco Sports Complex starting
at 3:30 p.m.
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Portsmouth
dream over for Fuller
Sunday, July 18,
LONDON (AFP) - Ricardo Fuller's move to English
Premiership side Portsmouth has collapsed after
the Jamaican international striker failed a medical,
the club said Saturday. The south-coast side insisted
the 24-year-old had to undergo two medicals to
prove that he had fully recovered from a serious
cruciate ligament injury. And Portsmouth said
that they opted out of the proposed 2 million
pound (US$3.7m dollar) move from First Division
Preston after taking advice from two medical sources.
Fuller was out for nine months last year after
having his left knee rebuilt by specialists in
America. But he hit 19 goals for Preston in the
league and cup last season, and Portsmouth manager
Harry Redknapp had been keen to acquire his services
as he tries to build on his side's Premiership
survival last season. "Fuller will return to Preston
to join the rest of the squad for pre-season training,"
Preston said in a statement. More
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Lazaroni
new TD of the Reggae Boyz
July 14
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has confirmed
that the former technical director of the Brazilian
national team Sebastiao Lazaroni will be contracted
as head coach of the Reggae Boyz. The present
technical director and head coach, Carl Brown
will become a part of of Lazaroni's support staff
but will also remain TD of the national program
with the exception of the senior team. Lazaroni
previously coached the Boyz in 2000 and had a
string of poor results. From five internationals,
Jamaica lost four and drew one, failing to score
a single goal. Additional detailswill be provided
at an upcoming press conference. More
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Portsmouth
set to sign Reggae Boy Fuller
Monday,
July 12, 2004
LONDON (CMC) - English Premier League club Portsmouth
should be signing Jamaica international Ricardo
Fuller, Lomana LuaLua, of Congo, and David Unsworth
in a swoop for three players to boost their Premiership
credentials, according to the club's official
website.
Chief
executive Peter Storrie stated that agreements
have been reached in principle with Preston North
End and Newcastle respectively, for strikers Fuller
and LuaLua, and with Everton for defender Unsworth.
The trio will travel to Fratton Park for medicals
this week.
Fuller, 25, has been in prolific form since joining
North End in June 2002, scoring an average of
a goal every two games, with 26 in 55 starts for
the Deepdale club.
LuaLua,
who had been linked with a move to West Brom,
spent four months on loan at Fratton Park at the
end of last season where he forged a successful
partnership with Aiyegbeni Yakubu, scoring four
goals in 10 starts as Portsmouth secured their
Premiership survival with just one defeat in their
last 10 games.
Unsworth
has spent six seasons at Everton after joining
in a three million pound deal from Aston Villa.
The 30-year-old defender will also provide Portsmouth
with a valuable goal-scoring contribution, having
netted 23 goals in his time at Goodison Park.
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Jamaica
Jump to 49th on FIFA List
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC
July 9
JAMAICA REMAINED THE Caribbean Football Union's
(CFU) top-ranked team in July's FIFA World Rankings
released yesterday after eliminating Haiti in
the CONCACAF Second Round World Cup qualifiers.
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz moved two places up to 49th
in the world, while the CFU's number two T&T jumped
14 places up the world ratings to 63rd after they
knocked out the Dominican Republic. St. Kitts
and Nevis have displaced Barbados as the fifth-ranked
team in the CFU after eliminating the Barbadians
in World Cup qualifiers last month. Big movers
In the CONCACAF qualifiers last month, St. Kitts
& Nevis whipped Barbados 3-0 in Barbados en route
to a 5-2 aggregate triumph in the two-match series,
and the result earned them the CFU's number five
spot, occupied for several years by Barbados.
St. Kitts and Nevis leapt 12 places to 108th in
the world, while Barbados slipped to 116th on
FIFA's list, and sixth in the CFU. Trinidad and
Tobago and Cuba also climbed significantly up
the rankings. There was a 14-place rise for Cuba
on the strength of their regulation time drawn
results - 1-1 and 2-2 - against the world's 29th-ranked
Costa Rica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines
jumped 10 places up the world list and knocked
Antigua and Barbuda out of the CFU's top-10. SVG,
who got past Nicaragua 6-3 on aggregate in the
CONCACAF qualifiers, moved up to 153rd in the
world and 10th in the CFU, while Antigua and Barbuda
dropped one spot to 163, and are now 12th in the
regional ratings. Mexico, FIFA's number six team,
remain number one in CONCACAF, ahead of the USA
(7th) and Costa Rica, with Jamaica fourth, and
Honduras (54th) fifth. Five-time world champions
Brazil stay number one ahead of France, followed
by Spain, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.
CFU rankings (world rankings in brackets) 1. Jamaica
(49) 2. Trinidad & Tobago (63) 3. Cuba (66) 4.
Haiti (91) 5. St. Kitts/Nevis (108) 6. Barbados
(116) 7. St. Lucia (127) 8. Grenada (138) 9. Suriname
(147) 10. St. Vincent & the Grenadines (153) 11.
Bermuda (162) 12. Antigua & Barbuda (163) 13.
Dominica (167) 14. Netherlands Antilles (169)
14. Dominican Republic (169) 16. British Virgin
Islands (179) 17. Guyana (181) 18. Cayman Islands
(183) 19. Bahamas (192) 20. Aruba (196) 21. Anguilla
(197) 22. U.S. Virgin Islands (200) 23. Puerto
Rico (201) 24. Turks & Caicos Islands (202) 25.
Montserrat (205). More
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Taylor
nets in Metro's 6-2 loss
July 5, 2004
WASHINGTON DC, CMC:
JAMAICAN FABIAN Taylor scored a second half goal
but the New York/New Jersey Metro-Stars slumped
to a heavy 6-2 loss to home team DC United in
their US Major League Soccer (MLS) match at the
RFK Stadium on Saturday. The 17-year-old Eddie
Gaven gave the Metros an early lead but DC United
roared back with three unanswered goals to lead
3-1 at the half en route to their handsome win.
Gaven netted in the 18th minute before Ryan Nelsen
(30th), Jaime Moreno (37th) and Alecko Eskandarian
(41st) gave the home side control. Earnie Stewart
made it 4-1 for DC United in the 57th minute,
before Taylor made an almost immediate impact
when brought on as a 60th minute substitute. SHOWED
GOOD SKILL Taylor scored from close range in the
63rd minute when Gaven showed good skill and strength
and crossed from the left, shrugging off two strong
defensive challenges as he fought to keep possession
of the ball. Reacting quickly, Taylor latched
onto Gaven's lateral pass in the six-yard box,
twisted the ball away from goalkeeper Troy Perkins
with his first touch, and squeezed the ball into
the goal with a left-footer from a tight angle.
DC United made the game safe when Eskandarian
(69th) got his second goal, and Ben Olsen scored
in stoppage time. At the Crew Stadium, home team
Columbus got goals in quick succession from Edson
Buddle and Jamaica-born Jeff Cunningham to stop
the Chicago Fire 2-0. Buddle broke free and scored
in the 43rd minute, clinically chipping the ball
over goalkeeper Henry Ring's head, and a minute
later, Cunningham picked up a loose ball, and
netted with a deflected shot -- his sixth goal
of the season -- after fighting off Chris Armas.
Chicago had Jamaica internationals Andy Williams
and Damani Ralph in their line-up. In Saturday's
third game, striker Davy Arnaud netted his first
career hat trick and propelled the Kansas City
Wizards to a 5-1 win over the Dallas Burn. More
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Hue, Harvey on target in T&T's PFL
CMC Saturday, June 26, 2004
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)
Jamaicans
Jermaine Hue and Chris Harvey and Guyanese Randy
Jerome were among the scorers in the latest round
of Trinidad and Tobago's Professional Football
League (PFL) matches this week. The prolific Jerome
struck Starworld Strikers' goal in a 1-1 draw
against Defence Force in the mid-week schedule,
while Hue and Harvey were on target for former
champions W-Connection, as they shot past Tobago
United 3-1. At the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet,
home team Tobago slumped to defeat against W-Connection,
as Harvey and Hue, two of five Jamaicans on the
W-Connection roster, netted in each half to give
the two-time champions victory. Harvey opened
the scoring in the 10th minute and Kendal Davis
made it 2-0 on 25 minutes. Garth Woodley pulled
a goal back for bottom-of-the-table Tobago 20
minutes into the second half, but Hue made the
game safe with an 80th minute strike. Robert Scarlett,
Oneil Thompson, and Lovell Palmer are the other
Jamaicans signed up with W-Connection. More
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CONCACAF
Roundup
CMC/AP Tuesday, June 22, 2004 Mexico hammer Dominica 10-0 SAN ANTONIO,
Texas (CMC) - CONCACAF giants Mexico pounded Dominica,
10-0, in the first-leg of their second round World
Cup qualifying series at the Alamodome on Saturday
evening.Adolfo
Bautista, Jared Borgetti and Daniel Osorno each
scored twice, while Duilio Davino, Jamie Lozano,
Rafael M?quez and Juan Francisco Palencia added
other goals for the Mexicans' handsome victory.The
10-0 margin was the most goals scored by Mexico
in a World Cup qualifying match since an 11-0
win over visiting St Vincent & the Grenadines
(SVG) in Mexico City December, 1992. The return-leg
of the Mexico-Dominica series will take place
at the Estadio Victoria in Aguascaliente, Mexico
on Sunday.
St
Vincent stomp on Nicaragua 4-1 KINGSTOWN,
St Vincent - St Vincent & the Grenadines emphatically
reached the semi-final round of CONCACAF qualification
for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 with a 4-1
win over Nicaragua in the return match of the
second round at Arnos Vale on Sunday. The Vincentians,
who held the Central Americans to a 2-2 draw in
the first leg in Managua last Sunday, win the
series, 6-3, on aggregate.
Minnows
St Kitts/Nevis oust Barbados NEW YORK - Callum
Willock scored twice and Daryl Gomez once to fire
St Kitts/Nevis into the semi-final round of CONCACAF
qualification when they edged Barbados, 3-2, in
the return leg of the second round in Basseterre
on Saturday. Elsewhere, Honduras became the third
side behind Canada and St Kitts/Nevis to reach
the semi-finals when they trounced the Netherlands
Antilles, 4-0, in San Pedro Sula.
T&T
advance after crushing DR 4-0 MARABELLA, Trinidad
- Stern John converted from the penalty spot Sunday
as Trinidad & Tobago easily beat the Dominican
Republic, 4-0, and 6-0 on aggregate to advance
to the semi-final round in CONCACAF World Cup
qualifying. Jason Scotland, Denzil Theobald and
Scott Sealey also scored as Trinidad dominated
the match at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium despite a
scoreless first half.
Donovan
leads US past Grenada ST GEORGE'S, Grenada
- Landon Donovan scored a goal and set up another
in the first half Sunday, leading the United States
into the semi-final round of CONCACAF World Cup
qualifying with a 3-2 victory over Grenada. The
result advanced the United States on a 6-2 aggregate
and sent them to the group stage of the qualifying
tournament.
Panama
whip St Lucia 7-0 on aggregate VIEUX FORT,
St Lucia (AP) - Panama advanced to the semi-final
round in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying after beating
St Lucia, 3-0, and 7-0 on aggregate at the National
Stadium yesterday. Panama led 1-0 at half-time,
with the goal coming from Luis Tejada in the 14th
minute.
Jamaica
Advances With 3-0 Win over Haiti June 20 An aggressive Jamaica Reggae Boyz team launched
an all out attack on Haiti scoring three unanswered
goals to put an end to Haiti's world cup hopes
tonight at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
After a series of early corners Jamaica was rewarded
with the first goal in the fourth minute by Marlon
King from a Ricardo Gardner corner. Jamaica kept
up the pressure , terrorizing the Haitian defense
from both sides of the field and was rewarded
with their second goal in the 14th minute again
from King with the assist from Damani Ralph. Haiti
tried desperately to get their game going but
seemed in shock as the Reggae Boyz danced all
over them scoring their third goal in the 31 minute
compliments of Marlon King with a hattrick. Both
teams ended with 10 men as red card were issued
to Jamaica's Garfield Reid and also to a Haitian
player. Jamaica drew 1-1 with Haiti in their first
leg encounter and will now advance to the semifinal
round which begins in August. For
a full play by play report
Today
Is Do Or Die For The ReggaeBoyz June 20 Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will face Haiti today
as they try to secure one of 12 places in the
semifinal round of their CONCACAF Zone World Cup
qualifiers at 6:00 pm at the National Stadium
in Jamaica. If the Boyz are to advance to the
next round, they need to win or at least avoid
conceding a goal. Defeat for Jamaica would mean
an end to their World Cup campaign. In the first
game that was played at Miami's Orange Bowl last
Saturday, the Reggae Boyz came away with the advantage
in their 1-1 tie. With the away goal rule in effect,
Jamaica needs to avoid conceding a goal as a 0-0
result would advance the Boyz to the semifinal
round which begins in August, while any draw with
more than four goals would see Haiti advancing.
Technical
Director Carl Brown is well aware of his team's
poor performance in the first leg and has stated
that he will be making changes, both tactical
and with personnel, in order to get a good result.
Brown is likely to adopt a 4-4-2 formation with
captain Theodore Whitmore leading the charge in
midfield with Jamie Lawrence, Andy Williams and
Ricardo Gardner contesting for the other midfield
positions. The other possible starters are, Donovan
Ricketts in goal, Claude Davis and Ian Goodison
at central defense; Craig Ziadie at right back
and Garfield Reid at left back. Marlon King, who
scored for Jamaica last week should remain upfront
and will be partnered by either Ricardo Fuller
or last weeks extremely dangerous looking second-half
substitute Damani Ralph.
Haiti's
coach Fernando Clavijo has expressed confidence
in his players abilities stating "We know
it is not going to be easy and we know that Jamaica
is a very good team but at the same time we are
confident in our strength and hope that we can
put it to work against Jamaica as we are ready
for the challenge". More
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Jamaica
hangs on to 1-1 tie with Haiti June13 Jamaica survived a scare from Haiti
and held on to a 1-1 draw in their CONCACAF World
Cup qualifying match Saturday night. A badly missed
penalty by Haiti's Wadson Corriolan in the first
5 seconds of the game had Jamaica on the defensive
as Haiti took the fight to Jamaica. Jamaica remaind
composed and were rewarded in the 38 minute with
a goal from Marlon King. The game continued to
swing from side to side as both teams tried to
take charge but it was the Haitians that seemed
to have the edge as they were putting the better
passes together. The half ended with Jamaica leading
1-0. Three minutes into the second half Haiti's
attack paid off, as they were awarded a second
penalty when Jean-Phillipe Peguero was fouled
from behind by Jamaican defender Claude Davis
deep in the goal area. Peguero made no mistake
as he sent the Ricketts diving the wrong way.
Both teams desperately attacked in search for
the tiebreaker and Jamaica looked more dangerous
after the introduction of Damani Ralph to the
lineup but Haiti refused to give them the edge
and fought all the way to the end. Both teams
will meet in the second game on June 20 in Jamaica.
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Jamaica
To Name Squad Today.
June
11
Carl
Brown will today name Jamaica's 18-man squad for
tomorrow's World Cup qualifying opening game against
Haiti at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Key defender
Ian "Pepe" Goodison was injured on Tuesday
with a serious hamstring muscle strain during
practice and will need to prove his fitness before
the final selection is submitted. The full squad
must be submitted to FIFA today. Missing will
be Tyrone Marshall who is nursing a recurring
injury. Dispite the defensive injuries, Brown
yesterday indicated that Ricardo Gardner will
be playing in his usual wide left position in
midfield in order to take the fight to the Haitians.
Brown will have to select his defense from Fabian
Davis, Claude Davis, Stewart, Garfield Reid and
Craig Ziadie. Jamaica will face Haiti in the first
leg of their crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifier
at 7:30 pm at the Orange Bowlin Miami, tomorrow.
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Injury
filled Reggae Boyz prepares for Haiti
June 7
Jamaica's
Reggae Boyz sets up a week-long training camp
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in preparation of
Saturday's first-leg CONCACAF World Cup qualifier
against Haiti at Miami's Orange Bowl on June 12.
Both teams are also scheduled to meet in the second-leg
of this knock-out tie at the National Stadium
in Jamaica on June 20. Players scheduled for the
camp include Richard Langley, Deon Burton, Marlon
King, Micah Hyde, Ricardo Fuller, Donovan Ricketts,
Aaron Lawrence, Claude Davis, Ian Goodison, Damion
Stewart, Gerald Neil, Garfield Reid, Fabian Davis,
Cornel Chin Sue, Jermaine Johnson, Theodore Whitmore,
Ricardo Gardner, Tyrone Marshall, Fabian Taylor,
Damani Ralph, Andy Williams and Craig Ziadie.
The team is filled with injuries which is cause
for concern amoung fans of the boyz. Players listed
as not 100% are Craig Ziadie with strained quads,
Ricardo Gardner bothered by swelling of the knee,
Theodore Whitmore, reported to be about 80% fit
and limping, Ricardo Fuller has problems with
his knee, Fabian Taylor bothered by hamstring
problems and Marshall who has not represented
his club for some time due to injury. More
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Ireland
1-0 over Jamaica
June 3
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz last night lost against
the Republic of Ireland 1-0 and ended the three-nation
Unity Cup in last place. Graham Barrett got his
first start for Ireland and beat Jamaica's goalkeeper
Donovan Ricketts in the 26th minute with a 25-yard
shot. Jamaica's coach Carl Brown said that "I'm
pretty satisfied with the team and that they have
achieved what they set out for in two very tough
games. Reports from our members indicates that
The Boyz played the better football and certainly
looked to be the more interesting side but arguing,
squabbling and passing the buck that was going
on between players which hurt the team. The Boyz
travel to Jamaica tonight and will return to camp
before the team departs for Florida on Monday.
Jamaica - Donovan Ricketts, Damion Stewart, Ian
Goodison, Gerald Neil, Garfield Reid, Cornel Chin
Sue (Richard Langley 65th), Fabian Davis, Micah
Hyde, Deon Burton (Narado Bernard 83rd), Kevin
Lisbie (Jermaine Johnson 61st), Marlon King (Craig
Dobson 84th).
Reggae
Boyz to play Nigeria and Ireland
May 22
In preparation for their CONCACAF World Cup qualifying
game against neighbours Haiti on June 12 and June
20, the Reggae Boyz will travel to London England
where thay will meet Nigeria on May 31 and Ireland
on June 2. The venue is The Valley which is the
home ground of Charlton Athletic and Tickets are
available from http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk and
also http://www.addicksonline.com.
Players
slated for the England camp are Aaron Lawrence,
Donovan Ricketts, Shawn Sawyers, Claude Davis,
Ian Goodison, Tyrone Marshall, Damion Stewart,
Craig Ziadie, Fabian Davis, Garfield Reid, Ricardo
Gardner, Jermaine Johnson, Richard Langley, Micah
Hyde, Andy Williams, Kevin Lisbie, Ricardo Fuller,
Marlon King, Damani Ralph, Barry Hayles, Cornel
Chin-Sue, Jamie Lawrence, Darren Byfield, Damien
Francis, Jonathan Williams, and Theodore Whitmore.
Nigeria
also named their 22-man squad for friendly internationals
against Republic of Ireland on May 29 and Jamaica
on May 31: Goalkeepers: Greg Etafia (Moroka Swallows,
South Africa) Sunday Rotimi (Dolphin FC, Nigeria),
Vincent Enyeama (Enyimba, Nigeria) Defenders:
Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Ifeanyi Udeze
(PAOK Salonika, Greece), Seyi Olajengbesi (Freiburg,
Germany), Joseph Enakarhire (Standard Liege, Belgium),
Isaac Okoronkwo (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England),
George Abbey (Macclesfield, England), Gabriel
Melkam (Hansa Rostock, Germany) Midfielders: Austin
"Jay Jay" Okocha (Bolton Wanderers, England),
Seyi Olofinjana (SK Brann, Norway), Garba Lawal
(Elfsborg, Sweden), Ifeanyi Ekwueme (Wisla Plock,
Poland), Wilson Oruma (Sochaux, France), Christian
Obodo (Peruggia,Italy) Strikers: John Utaka (RC
Lens, France), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Portsmouth, England),
Osaze Odemwingie (La Louviere, Belguim), Nwankwo
Kanu (Arsenal, England) and Obafemi Martins (Inter
Milan, Italy).
The
Irish squad includes Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Newcastle
United), Nick Colgan (Hibernian), Paddy Kenny
(Sheffield United) Defenders: Alan Maybury (Hearts),
Steve Finnan (Liverpool), Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham
City), Andy O'Brien (Newcastle United), Gary Doherty
(Tottenham Hotspur), Gary Breen (Sunderland),
Clive Clarke (Stoke City), Matt Holland (Charlton
Athletic), Jonathan Douglas (Blackburn), John
O'Shea (Manchester United) Midfielders: Liam Miller
(Celtic), Roy Keane (Manchester United), Andy
Reid (Nottingham Forest), Martin Rowlands (Queens
Park Rangers), Mark Kennedy (Wolverhampton Wanderers),
Michael Doyle (Coventry City), Steven Reid (Blackburn
Rovers), Alan Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Rory
Delap (Southampton), Stephen McPhail (Leeds United),
Mark Kinsella (West Bromwich Albion), Jason McAteer
(Sunderland) Forwards: Graham Barrett (Coventry
City), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Aidan
McGeady (Celtic), Alan Lee (Cardiff City), David
Connolly (West Ham), Clinton Morrison (Birmingham
City)
Lowe
sacked by Coventry City
May 20
Striker Onandi Lowe, who was arrested last month
for alledged drug possession, was let go by English
First Division club Coventry City in a nine player
release. The contracts for Lowe, Pegguy Arphexad,
Dean Gordon, Barry Quinn and Gavin Ward will not
be renewed the club's web site stated.
Reggae
Boyz stop Venezuela
April 29
Jamaica emerged 2-1 winners over Venezuela in
their friendly international football match at
the National Stadium last night. New Reggae Boyz
striker Marlon King, scored a debut goal in the
10th minute and Andy Williams unleashed a screamer
just before half time to give Jamaica the win.
Both goals were assisted by Ricardo Fuller. Venezula's
lone goal was scored by Juan Orango in the 27th
minute as his 30 yards shot was misjudged by out-of-position
Donovan Ricketts. There were a number of incidents
between the players as the game was poorly handled
by Barbadian referee, Noel Ford. The win serves
a morale booster for the Reggae Boyz upcoming
world cup qualifer on June 12 against Haiti.
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