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  • Submitted by: lena campos
  • 12 / 14 / 2012


Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz crashed out of the CFU Caribbean Championship after a humiliating 1-0 defeat to Cuba at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here last night.

Cuba’s goal was scored by Aliani Urgelles in the 57th minute.

Jamaica, who played atrocious football throughout the tournament, needed a win to advance from Group B as runners-up to Martinique who defeated French Guiana 3-1 in the curtain-raiser.

Cuba will advance on six points as the second qualifier from the group to the semi-finals. French Guiana finished third on three points, while Jamaica ended last with one point earned in a 0-0 draw with the zone winners.

Martinique will face Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba tackle Group A winners Haiti in the semi-finals tomorrow.

In their first game, the back-to-back defending champions lost 1-2 to French Guiana and then drew 0-0 with Martinique in their other group match.

For sure, the elimination of Jamaica will have far-reaching implications for the Boyz, including a spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup next summer and vital match practice in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers set to start in February next year.

Cuba’s first real chance came in the 17th minute when Alberto Gomez’s scorcher from 22 yards slammed into Duwayne Kerr’s left upright, the final move resulting from a swift counter-attack down Jamaica’s left side.

While the Cubans, true to style, kept hitting the Jamaicans with quick balls out of midfield, the defending champions’ response was the opposite, as they laboured forward in a wrinkled transition lacking purpose.

In the 28th minute, a chance for the go-ahead goal came Jamaica’s way as the ball bubbled about in the 18-yard box with at least three players offering tame shots, and finally the queue ended with Lovel Palmer blasting his close shot way off target.

Cuba, in another of their ominous, fanned-out attacking approach, again stretched the Jamaican defence to put Ariel Martinez in a sweet shooting position, being set up beautifully, but his shot was blocked by a back-tracking defender.

With an uninspiring start to the second half following on an equally dull first, it was no surprise when the Jamaicans went behind when Aliani Urgelles rose to flash home with the head from an inswinger at Kerr’s near post in the 57 minute.

Jamaica had a good chance to get an equalising goal in the 80th minute, but substitute Lamar Nelson’s scorcher was well handled by the Cuban custodian.

Source: jamaicaobserver.com


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