Jamaica's Reggae Boyz launched their 2014 Brazil World Cup campaign on a winning note when a Luton Shelton 68th minute strike condemned Canada to a 1-0 defeat in front of a partisan crowd inside the National Stadium last night.
The victory was Jamaica's fourth against the North Americans in 17 games and for the third time Shelton was getting on the scoresheet. He was a goalscorer when Jamaican won 2-1 on October 8 in a friendly international here at the same venue and he was also on target when Jamaica whipped the Maple Leaf boys 3-0 in a World Cup qualifying game on November 19, 2008.
The Jamaicans were off to a decent start, throwing numbers in attack and pinning their opponents on the defensive. In the third minute Rodolph Austin burst through from midfield on the left flank and whipped in a low cross, but a charging Demar Phillips just failed to get there ahead of a retreating defender, as Devon Hodges waited to pounce on any scraps.
Shortly after Phillips, who displayed his usual high levels of energy, played through Luton Shelton on the left side, but the speedy striker raced into the box then dallied before squandering the chance, despite having a number of teammates in support.
On 18 minutes Jamaica, who had looked the better team, moved the ball sumptuously from side to side before picking out the roving Phillips, who had switched to the right. He relayed a pass to Hodges inside the penalty area, but after the burly Rivoli United striker turned his marker expertly, he went for glory and blasted the ball high over the frame from an acute angle, instead of feeding any one of a number of teammates better placed in front of the goal.
The North Americans slowly worked themselves back into the game, and at the half way stage Dwayne Miller, who had been a spectator by then, had to dive to his right to parry a fierce low drive from a Massih Wassey free-kick from 30 yards.
And outside of punching away a few clearances from corner kicks, he was generally unwanted in the first half.
But on 36 minutes, Shelton ignited the crowd with an electrifying bit of skill. He collected a pass on the right flank 15 yards inside the Canadians' half, cut delicately, but decisively through the centre of the red-and-white clad Canadians, leaving them in his wake. But upon entering the penalty box and with only goalkeeper David Monslave to beat, he undid all the wonderful work by slotting the ball onto the body of the charging custodian, much to the chagrin of the partisan crowd.
The second half started in much the way of the first with Jamaica having the lion's share of possession and Canada trying to hit on the counter.
Early on de Julian de Guzman blasted a left-footer high over the top when an ineffective Eric Vernan lost possession just outside the penalty area, but the next play of significance belonged to the home team.
The ever-willing Omar Cummings was dispossessed a few metres inside the Canadians' half, but displayed resilience by regaining possession from a startled de Guzman before he embarked on an incisive run at the defence before teeing up Shelton on the left side. And for once, Shelton didn't hesitate as he powered home a firm grounder at Monsalve's near post.
Then on 76 minutes, Monslave did very well to deny Cummings' neat header from Austin's free-kick.
Head coach Theodore Whitmore made five substitutions and on occasions they tore the Canadian defence apart without having the incisiveness to conjure up a goal.
But at game's end Canada's head coach Stephen Hart could have no complaints as his team was clearly second best on the night.
Teams: Jamaica --Dwayne Miller, Tyrone Marshall, Shavar Thomas, Jermaine Taylor, Jason Morrison Ryan Johnson 71st), Rodolph Austin (Richard Edwards 79th), Eric Vernan (Kenardo Forbes 74th), Demar Phillips, Luton Shelton (Navion Boyd 70th), Omar Cummings (Keammar Daley 79th), Devon Hodges.
Subs not used: DuWayne Kerr, Rafe Wolfe, Adrian Reid, Lovel Palmer.
Booked: Phillips (74th), Daley (86th).
Canada -- David Monslave, Ante Jazic, Andre Hainault, Julian de Guzman, Antonio Riberio (Adrian Cann 42nd, Rivas carlo 88th), Dejan Jakovic, Tyler Hemming, Ali Gerba, Massih Wassey, Stephen Ademolu (Nana Attakora 71st), Eddy Sidra (Edwini-Bonsu Randy 77th).
Subs not used: Sirdjan Djekanovic, Garrett Kusch.
Booked: de Guzman (45th), Attakora (80th), Cann (84th).
