Cubans upset Reggae Boyz 2-1

KINGSTON: Jamaica went under 2-1 to Cuba Sunday night in an international football friendly, leading up to their trip to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which kicks off on July 12.

The Cubans shocked the 10 000 crowd when they went ahead in the 20th minute, after Reysander Fernandez evaded Robert Scarlett’s challenge just outside the penalty box, before hitting a low shot past keeper Aaron Lawrence. Eight minutes later the Cubans went two goals up as Jeniel Marquez thundered a volley into the nets. The home team pulled one back in the 86th minute through midfielder Richard Langley, who plays for English division two Queen’s Park Rangers.

The scoreline should have read 2-2 at the final whistle, but striker Onandi Lowe had his penalty saved by Cuban custodian Odelin Molina in the 55th minute, after the goal-keeper had fouled Lowe. Technical Director of the Jamaica national team, Carl Brown said after the match that the team showed their conditioning was good. He added that the Reggae Boyz did enough in the match to come out without a loss. The team’s final warm up match before flying out to the CONCACAF Gold Cup is against Paraguay, tomorrow.