COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago — Following a cautious first half, Jamaica’s Under-17 Reggae Boyz exploded in the second period with a dominant display to brush aside Curacao 3-0 in their CFU World Cup-qualifying third-place play-off at the Ato Boldon Stadium yesterday.
Cuba and defending champions Haiti were due to face each other for the title in the late kick-off.
Haiti had defeated Curacao 3-1 in the semi-finals, while Cuba clipped Jamaica 1-0, both games played on Friday.
Jamaica’s victory yesterday was led by a pair of well-taken goals by HVFC youth player Nickque Daley in the 47th and 70th minutes, while Raewin Senior got the other in the 21st.
The Young Boyz, like all the semi-finalists and best third-placed group finisher Suriname will now look to the CONCACAF Championship to be played in Panama next year.
From the confederations play-offs, four teams will advance to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in India next August.
Jamaica were beaten finalists in the last CFU tourney in 2014 when hosts Haiti won 2-0, both strikes from the penalty spot.
Yesterday, Jamaica’s first chance came in the fourth minute when midfielder Cobi Atkinson was played into the danger area by goalscorer Senior, but the former seemed in two minds and went for a cross instead of exploring the better option of shooting.
Seven minutes later, Jabari Morrison, in his first match of the tournament as coach Andrew Edwards rang the changes, went for an ambitious 25-yard drive after being played in by right back Jordan Petrekin, but his effort flew high.
But between all of that, Curacao were having their moments, threatening all the time mainly through Angerick Dorothea, Jonathan Libania and Nathan Bernardina.
In one of those Curacao attacks, Bernardina was played through from midfield in minute 18, cleverly slipping between two Jamaica defenders, but his angled right-footed shot from the edge of the area sailed high.
In the 21st minute and against the run of play, the Young Boyz got their go-ahead goal when Daley snatched possession in a promising area, then laid off to Morrison, whose defence-splitting pass to Senior was met and finished off with aplomb after expertly disposing of goalkeeper Kevin Juliana.
Senior, who plays youth cricket for Jamaica and the West Indies, was getting his fourth goal of the tournament. Yesterday’s brace by Daley took him to four goals as well.
Trailing the Jamaicans and desperate for the equalising goal, Curacao put their attacking game into higher gear, occasionally spreading the Jamaicans in midfield and defence.
Even as the Jamaican defence of Nickashe Murray, Calwayne Murray, Damani Osei and Jordan Petrekin appeared unhinged at times, they somehow managed to keeping marauding Curacao off the scoresheet.
In perhaps their slickest move of the half, Jamaica in the 40th minute worked a nice combination starting with Atkinson, who sprayed a delightful pass to the lurking Parris out right, and instead of his usual trickery, he delivered a quick pass inside for Senior whose final effort was blasted high from 18 yards.
Two minutes after the half-time break, the Jamaicans doubled their lead when Daley went on a solo run down the left side, using sheer strength and pace to cut a path to goal, ending the move by easily slipping the ball wide of the goalie.
After a lull in offensive industry, Curacao got some temporary spark back in the 57th minute when Dorothea played a cheeky ball for Bernardina bursting into the Jamaican box, but he could not find Daniel Russell’s goal.
But Russell was to be tested in the 65th minute when Shurendric Frasinet’s powerhouse from just inside the 18-yard box brought out the best in the Jamaican custodian, diving to his left.
But there was no doubt who controlled the second half as the Young Boyz kept the Curacao defenders on the retreat, exposing them by going down the middle or opening them up down the flanks.
And in another superb individual effort, Daley made it 3-0 in the 70th minute, outmuscling his marker to drive goalwards, side-footing past the ‘keeper.
Teams: Jamaica — Daniel Russell, Calwayne Allen, Jordan Petrekin, Nickashe Murray, Damani Osei, Jabari Morrison (Horace Ramsay 56th), Cobi Atkinson (Kimmani Gibbons 69th), Renato Campbell (Jeremy Verley 75th), Raewin Senior, Kaheem Parris and Nickque Daley.
Subs not used: Tajay Griffiths, Kendall Edwards, Omar Thompson, Blake White, Chad Letts
Booked: Cambell (58th)
Curacao — Kevin Juliana, Danel Rosa, Quinton Burk, Roderick Bolin, Angeric Dorothea, Ayodele Kwidama (Alexander Suart 90th), Jared Tyrol (Richajier Oleana 65th), Jonathan Libana, Nathan Bernardina, Luchenthly Vrutaal (Shurendric Fransinet 45th), Sharrion Pietersz.
Subs not used: Shurendric Fransinet, Everon Benschop, Derrick Gysbertha, Rogedien Lacruz, Izairo Lindeborg, Ronathan Willems, Sellfrine Pieters.
Booked: Ayodele Kwidama (61st)
Referee: William Anderson (Puerto Rico)
Assistant Referees: Eugene Faro (Aruba), Clifton Garnes (Barbados)
Fourth Official: Kimbell Ward (St Kitts)
Match Commissioner: Domique Stowe (St Vincent)
Source: The Jamaica Observer