BOYZ DODGE BULLET AGAINST ANTIGUA

The Reggae Boyz went into Antigua to take on the Benna Boys in World Cup Qualifying and must be thanking their lucky stars that they came away with a 0-0 draw that could have easily have been much worse. After dominating Guatemala at home just over a week ago and winning by two goals to one, Jamaica would have got just enough confidence to go into Antigua expecting at the very least, a repeat performance and coming away with the full three points.

What they found however, was a very cohesive unit coached by Tom Curtis that could have easily come away with a crucial home win.

The Reggae Boyz for the most part looked disorganized. Among the things that were absent was the slick passing that for the most part we saw in the second half against Guatemala; the kind of passing that saw Jamaica dominating possession and creating chance after chance to score. Inexplicably, Jamaica only managed to score one goal at the start of the second half against their Central American rivals as they hit the crossbar twice and had the Guatemalan keeper busy for the remainder of the match pulling off save after save.

Scoring has always been Jamaica’s problem. The team rarely scores heavily. This I believe comes from a collective mindset of being satisfied with very little. So in those rare instances when the team dominates another, Jamaica is likely to come away with a marginal one or two-nil win. Jamaica’s most recent results include one-nil and three-nil victories over Cuba, a 3-2 win against New Zealand, 0-0 against Costa Rica, back to back defeats 0-1 and 1-2 against Panama and 2-1 over Guatemala. That’s 8 goals for in six matches while conceding five goals. What that means is that we score just over a goal a match while conceding almost a goal a match.

In my view the team lacks that killer instinct to put teams away by overwhelming them with a deluge of goals that not only kills them off but breaks their spirit as well for future encounters. That suggests that for any game Jamaica plays the other team always seems to have a chance. That is exactly what happened against Antigua on Tuesday night.

Antiguan strikers Peter Byers and Timarley Thomas between them got several opportunities to score against Jamaica’s uncertain defence on Tuesday night. Byers especially, had a few good chances and in one instance almost caused Demar Phillips to score an own goal. Yes, Luton Shelton hit the upright mid-way through the second half but for to any objective observer Antigua could easily have come away with a 3-1 win. In that light Jamaica was lucky.

The luck stayed with Jamaica after the match ended as the United States who are atop the group by virtue of goal difference over Jamaica even though each team has four points, managed to concede a late goal and drew 1-1 with Guatemala. Had the US won they would have been two points clear and seeing that they are easily the strongest team in Group A, would have put Jamaica at a distinct disadvantage considering that we play them next here at the national stadium. Now, at the very least Jamaica goes into its encounter against the US level on points.

The bottom line is that Theodore Whitmore and his coaching staff have to thanks their lucky stars for poor shooting of the Antiguan strikers and a leaky US defense or else their World Cup campaign would have been off to an even rockier start.

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6 Responses to “BOYZ DODGE BULLET AGAINST ANTIGUA”

lionking topcat says:

June 14, 2012 at 7:44 pm

Ok Jamaica escaped with a 0-0 draw this is mediocre these bizmal performances cant take us to no trophy so you all so call big ballers better get ambitious cut out the scrimmage ting and start show technique, enthusiasm, and finishing and do keep possession of the d** ball.
what if we try building the next team around players who have won a trophy no matter what league or country they play in within the last say 5 yrs. at least they would know the taste of winning and then want it and go get it at least the coach would not look bad. I think Jamaicans get stage fright when they go abroad to play, eg; I seen the seen the original Reggae Boyz play at giant stadium and when the crowd shout C-o-l-u-m-b-i-a al Jamaicans on the field including the present coach stop and look at the 70 odd thousand people in the stand the next thing it was 1-0 . the other thing when they seen them english players roll more than the ball they became confused hence 5-0 although this set better than those gainst england but they not impressing. just my opinion still.
Rave says:

June 16, 2012 at 6:39 pm

Antigua was never a push over so andboth teams worked hard so i feel blessed with the outcome as the negative would have been a a disaster .
Delroy Stephenson says:

June 17, 2012 at 8:37 am

lion king topcat, you are so right. I watched the game between Antigua and US and, I do not believe Antigua is a good team.

Firstly,they played a disruptive defensive game, thereby lessening opponent’s opportunities of scoring against them. Secondly,their goal keep can’t catch the ball, thus, they gave up too many second chances and corners.

Now, if Jamaica couldn’t lift their game to beat to that team, I do not see Jamaica winning another game.

Despite all the excuses, one only have to look back at the Panama friendly’s to see that this team is not going anywhere.
Junior Hart says:

June 17, 2012 at 8:49 am

You are being myopic. Jamaica got four chances to score. Ryan Johnson got two headers which the Antiguan keeper parried.

Dane Richards got one and blasted the ball over the net, with the keeper at his mercy, and, as you stated Luton Shelton hitting the inside of the post and rebounded into play and was cleared.

You are just concentratig on the downside of the Jamaucan performance against the ultra physical Antiguan team who conceded foul after foul by sweeping the legs from under the Reggae Boyz, to stop them in their play.
Horace Lynch says:

July 12, 2012 at 12:21 am

Coach Whitmore need to look outside of the UK to find more creative and dynamic players. The recent play of Vancouver White Caps forward and MLS #2 pick Darren Mattocks deserve serious consideration. This is especilly the case since we have aging,indiscipline (Marlon King) declining forwards.

The United States team is technically and physically one of the top two teams in Concacaf. If we do not come with all cylinders blazing then we will be blown away.
elaine cold says:

September 11, 2012 at 1:14 pm

I am so tired of the Boyz not getting too far over the years, I know in Canada if the coaches don’t deliver a winning team, they are fired, and new coach take over..Jamaica need coaches that can did outside the box and brainstorm difference techniques. Coach Whitmore, please go seek out some of the younger players at the clubs or the school you will find great players, before other country take them, and Jamaica don’t no more good players. Think! Think!