Our last game of the group stage, with a win being the option for us if we wanted to hope to advance. An additional player was pushed in attack, and this move got us going early. Co-strikers Kellijah Morgan burst forward down the right flank to cross as Demarco Thorne latched on to it at the far post to convert after just 7 minutes to make it 1-0. A foul on Morgan about 22 yards out, Delroy Jones’ resulting free kick was struck accurately on target as the custodian initially saved but coughed it up to the onrushing Thorne, who scored his second 9 minutes later to make it 2-0, game on. Rampant, the attacking force clicked and won a right-sided corner, delivered by Jones onto the head of Keastner Sturridge who redirected it into the near post, 3-0 after 22 minutes.
We started dreaming of advancing, could it be? The bad habit of giving up soft goals revisited us, as goalkeeper Anthony Bennett, who was almost perfect yesterday and much of today, made the cardinal error of letting the ball slip from his grasp for the little centre-forward to tap into an empty net in minute 27; 3-1 at halftime.
The second half started with nothing to lose and no real attempt other than a 20-yard drive well-handled by the already-eliminated Nicaraguans. They threw more players into attack with no fear and newfound confidence to dominate the first part of the new half. Bennett in goal showed his better form, while defenders Marshalleck, Brown, Jones and Willis stood their ground; Defensive midfielders Miller and co-captain Rojaughn Joseph were out-manned in midfield. Sturridge and Williams helped contain the pressure until Williams was replaced by Spaulding on the left, and the attacking line was reinforced with Whitehorne replacing Sturridge.
The Nicaraguans’ industry eventually paid off as a wonderful curler from their left side evaded the custodian to lodge inside the far post and threaten to tie up the game at 3-2, with 7 minutes to play. The fighting spirit was reignited, ours rose up again as marksman Kellijah Morgan struck twice in a jiffy, firstly to outwit the goalkeeper from 23 yards inside his near post followed a thunderbolt to stretch the net 3 minutes later from the other side, 5 – 2. Co-captain Warner Brown’s splendid overhead acrobatic attempt flew over the crossbar from a corner, Jones’ free kick hurdled the bar too as the march was on only to be interrupted by the final blow of the whistle by the referee. We won 5-2, but it was not enough to advance to the playoffs.
Our climb back to survival failed, as our gallant youngsters put in another solid shift for a second day running to defeat Nicaragua’s Real Eltris by 5-2, ending with 4 points from a loss, draw and a victory;
Real Eltris ended pointless the tournament. Both Caribbean teams of the tournament ended in a tie for points, and goal difference was introduced to separate the two.
Trinidadians San Juan Jabloteh had a -1, with 4 goals for and 5 against after losing their final game 1-3 to the Mexican zone leaders, Buhos de Hermosillo, on a perfect 9 points. We had -4, with 6 goals for and 10 against to end third.
Hearts were broken, as immediately after our game, the officials told us we had advanced and even placed it on the publicity board only to have the massive celebrations halted with the news of reversal as the final scores were released with both matches played at the same time. A dark cloud of gloom suddenly replaced joy as the youngsters became confused but the logic of the results were soon explained. Acceptance was a bitter pill to swallow but the group took it manfully, proud of their efforts invested, though sad. We had come to win, and then saw how much we could’ve won by and where the chips would’ve fallen from the other game result. Both results from the final day suited us, we won handsomely and SJJ lost, just not badly enough.
Wide-scale admiration was showered on our squad from the organizing staff of CONCACAF, who witnessed the positive turnaround from the disastrous opener to the convincing victory today. The Trinidadians were first in our tent to celebrate and commiserate with their newfound friends, saying that we should really have beaten them the previous day. Canada’s Vancouver Whitecaps cheered us on as they watched our last game and asked for a friendly game immediately. Later, our zone leaders, Buhos de Hermosillo, came by almost apologizing for not winning by a bigger margin as they had wanted us to advance as second. The praise from visiting parents, teams and admirers kept flowing as many of the squad members were asked to take photos. This helped defuse some of the sadness of the game loss, but not the pain of disappointment as proud Jamaicans.
Our technical team congratulated the players for their genuine effort, discipline and commitment to the task but regret the poor opener, from which we paid for in the end. Practice games are planned and alternative schedules to be confirmed tomorrow.
Starting XI:
Goalkeeper- Anthony Bennett
Defenders- Delroy Jones (left back), Warner Brown (centre half), Jaequan Marshalleck (centre half), Rasheed Willis (right back)
Midfielders- Rojaughn Joseph (defensive), Romali Miller (defensive), Keastner Sturridge (attacking), Tyrese Williams (attacking)
Forward- Demarco Thorne, Kellijah Morgan
Substitutes:
Damain Robinson (GK), Tyrieke Spaulding, Kevaughn Wilson, Damoy Whitehorne, Howard Anglin