Jamaica schoolboys keep Friendship Cup
Roger Seepersad
T'dad Express, Tuesday, December 12th 2006
The JAMAICAN All-Schools' team defeated their Trinidad and Tobago
counterparts 3-1 at Queen's Royal College ground yesterday, in the
second leg of the 2006 Jamaica and T&T Friendship Cup, to win the
series for the third consecutive year.
The first game at the Many Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella ended in a 1-1
draw on Saturday. But yesterday, the boys from Jamaica looked to be
the stronger team from the start, creating some early chances in the
opening 15 minutes through the effort of Richard Wilson. But after
beating goalkeeper Akini Adams, his shot rebounded off the underside
of the crossbar.
However, Wilson was rewarded six minutes later when he ran onto the
ball and fired a vicious shot past Adams to the dismay of the T&T contingent.
T&T could not recover from this terrible start as they struggled to
keep possession long enough. Their passing also let them down in the
first half as T&T continued to have trouble getting through a
physically imposing Jamaican midfield.
In the second half, T&T continued to have problems containing the
Jamaican attack.
The pressure showed in the decisions of T&T All-Schools coach Leon
Carpette, who made many substitutions before and after the half time break.
Jamaica asserted their dominance later in the second half after a
period of immense pressure resulting in Robert Palmer having a shot
on goal. His effort sailed past Adams to give Jamaica a 2-0 lead in
the 67th minute.
Four minutes later, James Thomas made it 3-0 for the visitors when
his close range shot proved too much for Adams who was eventually
substituted for Jeremy Tenia.
San Juan Secondary Comprehensive's Elijah Manners rarely ventured
into the other half on the uneven field at QRC, being dispossessed on
almost every attempt to run past the Jamaicans.
However, his persistence paid off in the 75th minute when everything
went right for the T&T boys.
Manners' shot from just inside the penalty area found its target to
give T&T their lone goal.
The win gives Jamaica the Cup for the third time since it was
re-introduced in 2004.
