Reggae Boyz spank Soca Warriors 3-1 in ‘friendly’

Devon Jorsling replied for Trinidad and Tobago, who were second-best in all departments.

In front of a jam-packed audience, with fans either filtering on the aisles or on the barbed-wire fence surrounding the astro-turf, both teams used the match as preparation for the Digicel Caribbean Cup later this year, but Jamaica’s display showed that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the regional football competition.

Jamaica broke the deadlock in the eighth minute, as Trinidad and Tobago right-back Makan Hislop’s headed clearance was met by Richards who took advantage of a breakdown in communication between centre-backs Keston Williams and Carlyle Mitchell to drill a thunderous right-footer to the right of the outstretched goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams.

Utilising a five-man midfield, with two strikers atop, Jamaica kept Trinidad and Tobago in their half, for the majority of the first half, and brutally exposed the defensive frailties of wing-backs Aklie Edwards and Hislop, as well as debutant Mitchell.

Bryan had a decent chance to widen the score-line, as moved into open space at the heart of the Trinidad and Tobago defence but his right-footer was gathered by Jan-Michael Williams.Trinidad and Tobago’s first shot on goal took place in the 19th minute, as Jorsling teed up Keon Daniel on the left and the midfielder drove his left-footer wide of Donovan Ricketts’ net.

Ryan Johnson, on the left, moved past Hislop and supplied a ball between Mitchell and Keston Williams, while Jan-Michael Williams was at sea, but Richards, inside the six-yard box, skied his right-footer high. Moments later, Bryan muscled off a challenge from Keston Williams and forced a save from the Trinidad and Tobago keeper, but Richards blazed his right-footer wide.

Jorsling evened up the scores in the 28th, nudging a right-footer past Ricketts after a cross from Daniel on the left, which caught the Jamaican back-line off-guard.

The joy of the Trinidad and Tobago squad lasted only two minutes, as Barbadian referee Trevor Taylor awarded a penalty after Bryan was tripped by Mitchell, and Austin drilled the spot-kick to the right of an out-stretched Jan-Michael Williams.

The speed and power of the Jamaican players overwhelmed the Trinidad and Tobago bunch, and they seemed no better off in the second half, as they fell further behind in the 53rd. A neat move between Eric Vernan and Richards on the right resulted in a cross to Bryan, who headed over the reach of Jan-Michael Williams and Mitchell, who was clearly favouring an injured groin.

Mitchell was replaced by Daniel Cyrus, to spark a spate of second-half substitutions, with the returning Kendall Jagdeosingh attempting a powerful long-range left-footer, which went overbar, while Cyrus’ weak headed clearance to Austin saw the ball fall to Devon Hodges who narrowly missed the target, from 20 metres out.

Austin’s match ended in the 80th after he was sent off for dissent, following a foul by Richard Edwards on Jagdeosingh, while Trent Noel’s resultant freekick missed the mark by a few metres.

With the crowd filing out, Jamaica had a good chance to net their fourth, but Kenardo Forbes failed to finish a fantastic midfield move, as his right-footed lob nestled on top the net.

Teams –

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Jan-Michael Williams; Keston Williams, Carlyle Mitchell (Daniel Cyrus 55th), Aklie Edwards, Makan Hislop; Trent Noel (capt), Keon Daniel (Kendall Jagdeosingh 65th), Kevon Carter (Hayden Tinto 74th), Hughton Hector (Devon Jamerson 79th); Kerry Baptiste (Jason Marcano 55th), Devon Jorsling.

JAMAICA: Donovan Ricketts (capt); Shavar Thomas (O’Neil Fisher 90th), Dicoy Williams, Jermaine Taylor; Richard Edwards (Devon Williams 90th), Eric Vernan (Ricardo Cousins 88th), Troy Smith, Rudolph Austin, Ryan Johnson (Kenardo Forbes 79th); Dane Richards (Adrian Reid 82nd), Kavin Bryan (Devon Hodges 65th).