Ja silence Spice Boys to lift New York Carib Cup
CMC
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
BROOKLYN, New York (CMC) - Jamaica clinched the New York Caribbean Football Cup for the fourth time when they trounced Grenada in the final before a massive crowd at the Jefferson High School grounds on Sunday.
The defending champions dominated the match to win 4-2 and lift their third successive Cup title.
Grenada had only themselves to blame as they failed to capitalise on numerous scoring opportunities, despite the huge support from the vocal crowd.
Jamaica took the lead after just seven minutes when Ryan Reid eluded Grenadian goalkeeper Carl Braveboy five yards outside the penalty box.
Reid returned in the 85th minute to give Jamaica their fourth and final goal, putting the game beyond the Grenadians' grasp in semi-dark conditions.
Jamaica completely took charge in the first half, leading 3-1, with Vincent Earl (21st minute) and Marco Hamilton (31st minute) giving Reid tremendous support.
Earl blasted to Braveboy's right, eight yards outside the penalty box, and Hamilton chipped the ball over Braveboy's to put Jamaica 3-0 ahead.
But Damionne Cyrus salvaged some Grenadian pride in the 42nd minute when he sent Jamaican goalkeeper Maurice Evans flying in vain to his right, evoking a cacophony of sounds from the Grenadian section of the stand.
Grenada then hauled themselves back into the contest when a superb low header in the 52nd minute by Ricky Charles gave them their second goal.
But the Jamaicans maintained their reign in the dying staging of the match, even advancing their lead with an additional goal, to the chagrin of the Grenadian supporters who out-numbered the Jamaicans by the hundreds.
"I feel very good to be a winner today," Jamaican head coach Arthur Mikes told CMC Sports in a post-game interview.
"Far before this game, we knew we were going to be the champions. We were unbeaten [up to the grand final], and we knew we were going to retain the championship title."
Mikes said the team's recent success in the Caribbean Cup was special, considering there had been a period where Jamaica had struggled to win.
"Over the years, Jamaica have not been winning," he said. "And from the last five years, we have taken four trophies, so that's good."
The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Barbados, Antigua, Dominica, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad & Tobago were the other teams in the tournament.