Sport
Boyz seek improved show in 7th Cup appearance
BY PAUL BURROWES Observer writer
Friday, July 03, 2009
Jamaica will make their seventh appearance in the CONCACAF Gold Cup today, hoping to go at least two places better than the 1993 and 1998 editions.
Devon Jarrett's 89th-minute goal on July 25, 1993, ensured Jamaica third place with Costa Rica, who went ahead in the first half.
Despite sudden-death extra time, the match ended 1-1, thanks to the efforts of Warren Barrett, Barrington Gaynor, Desmond Smith (Devon Jarrett, 51st), Anthony Corbett, Durrent Brown, Ifedel Hamilton, Dean Sewell, Anthony Dennis, Hector Wright, Walter Boyd (Roderick Reid, 56th) and Paul Davis.
Mexico won the 1993 Gold Cup, whipping the United States 4-0 in the final.
Having failed to qualify for the 1996 Gold Cup, Jamaica returned in 1998 and on February 3 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, 43,754 spectators saw Jamaica hold Brazil to a 0-0 draw.
It was a proud moment for goalkeeper Barrett, Frank Sinclair, Linval Dixon, Durrent Brown, Ian Goodison, Ricardo Gardner (Stephen Malcolm-25th), Peter Cargill (Christopher Dawes, 79th), Fitzroy Simpson, Andy Williams, Deon Burton (Winston Griffiths, 64th) and Paul Hall.
Hall's brace and a goal from Andy Williams completed Jamaica's 3-2 win over Guatemala five days later at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, and the very next day Marcus Gayle and Fitzroy Simpson put Jamaica into the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over El Salvador.
On February 12, 1998, the Reggae Boyz ran into the Mexicans in the semi-finals to lose 0-1 and in the third place play-off against Brazil three days later, they lost 0-1.
Mexico also won the 1998 Gold Cup, beating USA 1-0 in the final.
With appearances at the 1991, 2000, 2003, and 2005 editions, Jamaica have so far played 22 matches, with five wins, four draws, 13 losses, with 24 goals for and 45 goals against.
The latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World ranking, released on Wednesday, shows the Boyz as the No 5 team in CONCACAF behind the US, Costa Rica, Mexico and Honduras.
While the Costa Ricans will likely be tough, having lost only one of 10 matches played this year, Jamaica will have to make their presence felt against their Group A contenders Canada and El Salvador.
The Boyz's record against the Canadians have not been impressive, having won only four games in 17 matches, drawn six and lost seven, with 13 goals for and 18 against.
Canada beat Jamaica 3-2 in their only Gold Cup encounter on July 3, 1991, so the Boyz will have the opportunity to square the match-up today.
El Salvador, on the other hand, lost to Jamaica in their only Gold Cup clash on February 9, 1998. Jamaica won 2-0 and in their 18 matches in all competitions, the Boyz won six, drew seven, and lost five, with 17 goals for and 11 goals against.
Against Costa Rica, Jamaica won three of their 18 matches in all competition, drawing six and losing nine, with 13 goals for and 42 against.
In the Gold Cup, the teams have met once and, as indicated earlier, the match ended 1-1 to share third place at the 1993 Gold Cup.
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